Jordan Katz 2019 NFL Prediction Mock Draft 3.0: Final
Ladies and Gentleman, the spectacle that is the NFL Draft has arrived. Even though this draft class is not one of the stronger ones, this has still proven to be an incredibly interesting draft season. We still have no idea who the first overall pick will be, we still have no idea which teams are actually going to take quarterbacks, and we still have no idea how the New England Patriots will find enough talent in this draft to make it back to another Super Bowl next year.
Based on things I have read as well as pre-draft visits and workouts, this is my prediction for how I expect the NFL Draft will shake down next week. There’s some predictions in this mock draft that are to be expected, there are some curveballs, and as I alluded to earlier, the rest of the league just lets the Patriots clean up once again.
This is not one of my personal mock drafts where I assume the GM role for all 32 teams. This is strictly me trying to get every selection right, which is an exercise in futility, but it should help give you an idea of who your favorite team likes and what positions they are looking to target on draft day. As always, there are trades, and trades made in this mock draft are denoted with an asterisk next to the team.
Final Prediction Edition of #MockLyfeNeverSleeps. We are in the Endgame now.
ROUND ONE
1) *Oakland Raiders via Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray, QB Oklahoma– There’s too much smoke here, right? Arizona has not only talked Murray up for weeks, they now appear to openly be fielding offers for Josh Rosen.
However, what if this truly is a smokescreen? The Cardinals still need multiple pieces in order to compete in 2019, and one way to accomplish that is to trade down and acquire some assets.
On the other hand, Oakland is definitely convinced they can win now. The one thing they do not seem to be convinced of is Derek Carr. The Raiders have met with both Murray and Dwayne Haskins a few times and appear to like both a lot. Now this would definitely be an out of the box move, but what if Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock use their assets in a weak draft to get a game changer at the QB position? Arizona and Oakland shock the world to start the Draft.
Editor’s Note: I have to give my brother Danny the credit for this prediction. For months he’s been telling me how bad the Raiders brass is at playing “the game,” that is the NFL Draft, and how Arizona and Oakland make sense as trade partners. He was first on this prediction and I’m now jumping on board.
2) San Francisco 49ers: Quinnen Williams, DT Alabama- Some may call this a curveball here, but I don’t think that’s apropos. Williams has dominated the athletic testing portion of the draft process, and many think he was equally as dominant as Nick Bosa was in college. I think more teams have Williams atop their board than the media realizes at this moment.
3) New York Jets: Nick Bosa, EDGE Ohio State- In just about every scenario, Mike Maccagnan will trade out of this pick. There should be enough buzz around Dwayne Haskins at this point for teams like Denver, Cincinnati or Washington to leapfrog the Raiders and Giants in order to land their QB of the future. If Kyler Murray is also available, the Jets could get a king’s ransom here.
However, this isn’t your normal scenario. If I’m right and the Niners take Quinnen Williams over Bosa, the Jets will have a massive dilemma on their hands. Is their roster good enough to compete if they do not trade down and pick Bosa? Do they still trade down even with Bosa on the board? It’s not a bad problem to have, but it will be very interesting to see how Maccagnan and company handle it.
4) *Arizona Cardinals via Oakland Raiders: Jawaan Taylor, OT Florida- Assuming Bosa and Quinnen Williams are both off of the board by this selection, which I’m not sure is a lock, Arizona would just move to their biggest need. Many think Taylor is the runaway best tackle in this draft and can slide over to the left slide while maintaining production. Arizona chooses to sure up their offensive line after narrowly missing the heist of the century in Bosa at the 4th overall pick.
5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Devin White, ILB LSU- White to the Buccaneers has been rumored for a while now. They lost Kwon Alexander in free agency, and they need a three down linebacker that can do it all to replace him.
6) New York Giants: Daniel Jones, QB Duke- Okay Giants fans, I am so sorry to continue to obliterate your front office in these prediction mocks, but here we go again. David Gettleman can praise Eli Manning all he wants, but he’s still looking for a QB of the future in this draft. By not taking one last year in the best QB draft we’ve seen since 2004, and thinking his team was in a win now position, Gettleman backed himself into a corner. He had to settle for a lesser offer in order to get Odell Beckham out of the locker room and start a rebuild, and now he will have to settle for one of the QBs in this draft.
I know what you’re thinking though. “Okay Jordan, that explains them going quarterback. But why on earth would they pass on Dwayne Haskins for Daniel Jones?” Ladies and Gettleman (pun intended), allow me to introduce you to how David Gettleman will mess this up even further.
Jones has the “ideal size and build,” just like Haskins, but it’s his connection to David Cutcliffe that will have NFL teams ready to pick him much higher than he should go. Cutcliffe is most well known for his work with both Peyton and Eli Manning, and his relationship with David Gettleman is very strong as a result of working with Eli Manning. I think the Giants QB target in this draft is Daniel Jones, and they will either take him at 6 or 17 depending on how the board falls.
7) *Cincinnati Bengals via Jacksonville Jaguars: Dwayne Haskins, QB Ohio State- I think Cincinnati is going to go all out for a QB in this draft. With Andy Dalton on the latter stages of his career, the Bengals need to find their quarterback of the future sooner rather than later. Having dodged a bullet with the Giants, the Bengals give the Jaguars a little extra to come up and get their guy.
8) Detroit Lions: Josh Allen, EDGE Kentucky- Allen has had multiple visits with the Lions during this draft process, including a private workout. Detroit needs a pass rusher opposite Trey Flowers to generate the havoc that Head Coach Matt Patricia would like. If Allen is on the board here, this is as far as he goes because Detroit is seemingly in love with him.
Editor’s Note: Assuming Allen is off the board before this spot, Detroit could be a candidate to trade down. I don’t think they are as enamored with Brian Burns and Montez Sweat as they are with Allen. Not to mention, a team looking to pick DK Metcalf will have to jump Buffalo to do so.
9) Buffalo Bills: DK Metcalf, WR Ole Miss- Speaking of Metcalf to Buffalo, allow me to introduce the layup of the Top 10. The Bills still need a game changer in their receiving core, and Metcalf is just that. He’s phenomenal off the line and he showed his deep ball ability with a freakish 40 time at the Combine. John Brown and Cole Beasley were nice additions in free agency, but Metcalf is the big playmaker they need.
10) Denver Broncos: Drew Lock, QB Missouri- Four QBs in the Top Ten of this draft class is absolutely abominable, but we’re trending that way. The Broncos have had multiple visits with Drew Lock, and it appears they are… Locked…. in to him should Dwayne Haskins land elsewhere on draft day.
Editor’s Note: If you’ve read my personal mock drafts, you know I’m not a fan of the QB class. Outside of Kyler Murray, I do not have a quarterback on my board with a round one or a round two grade. Having said that, this is a Quarterback driven league, and QBs will always be overdrafted because of the value they bring.
11) *Jacksonville Jaguars via Cincinnati Bengals: Rashan Gary, EDGE/DL Michigan- Jacksonville’s draft strategy is anyone’s guess at this point. They have a few obvious needs (OL, Pass Catchers, FS, DL), but the order in which they address them is a mystery.
Should the Jaguars trade down, a guy like Gary could be in play for them. He has the versatility to move all along the defensive front, and the athleticism to be productive at the next level.
12) Green Bay Packers: Ed Oliver, DL Houston- Green Bay has been very aggressive in attempting to improve their defense during the 2019 offseason. I expect that to continue during the first round of this draft.
Oliver would go right to 3-4 defensive end and solidify a new look front seven that should be much more productive than years past.
13) *Houston Texans via Miami Dolphins: Andre Dillard, OT Washington State- The Texans are desperate for offensive line talent early in this draft. They had a ton of money this offseason and chose not to spend it. With extra assets in a weak draft (and Miami’s willingness to trade down), the Texans come up for Dillard, who many people think is the top left tackle in the draft.
14) Atlanta Falcons: Christian Wilkins, DT Clemson- Ed Oliver would be the ideal pick for Atlanta at 14, but Wilkins is a nice consolation prize. He possesses a quick first step like Oliver, he’s very technically sound in the little things (pad level, gap assignments, exc), and he has a high motor. All three of these will be very appealing to Head Coach Dan Quinn.
15) *Pittsburgh Steelers via Washington Redskins: Devin Bush, ILB Michigan- Bush has put together a phenomenal pre-draft process. He was a combine warrior, posting terrific numbers in the 40, vertical jump and 3-Cone drill. Then he went to his pro day and showed the ability to flip his hips like a defensive back. Pittsburgh trades up to land a necessary three down linebacker in the middle of their defense.
16) Carolina Panthers: Brian Burns, EDGE Florida State- Carolina loves the bigger, more physical edge players like Rashan Gary, and Brian Burns isn’t necessarily that. While he possesses good strength for his skill set, his biggest “strength,” is his ability to dip and bend around the edge.
Having said that, I think Carolina could go a different route here and take a player like Burns. Carolina has hinted at wanting to run more 3-4 sets and show multiple looks this season. They signed Bruce Irvin as well, making me think that the idea to go 3-4 could become more of a reality.
Whatever the decision winds up being, the selection at 16 will tell you all you need to know about their defensive game plan for the upcoming season.
17) New York Giants via Cleveland Browns: Montez Sweat, EDGE Mississippi State- Here’s why I sense the Giants going with a Quarterback at 6 instead of 17. There are so little quarterbacks this year and so many edge rushers, there is a much better chance to grab a talented pass rusher at 17 than a talented quarterback. Sweat had a terrific pre-draft process and should be a top 20 lock in a week’s time.
18) Minnesota Vikings: Jonah Williams, OT/OG/C/OL/Please Play Him at Tackle, Alabama- The fact that Jonah Williams will not be the top offensive lineman taken this year is an absolute disgrace. This is Zack Martin all over again. At some point, NFL teams will learn that technique and intelligence are what matters along the offensive line, and not just length and athleticism. Williams will be an All-Pro talent.
19) Tennessee Titans: Noah Fant, TE Iowa- Fant hs been my TE1 all year because of his athleticism and quickness when running routes. He’s an excellent blocker and a weapon in the middle of the field. Fant is an ideal fit in Tennessee’s offense and the heir to Delanie Walker’s throne at the TE position.
20) *Washington Redskins via Pittsburgh Steelers: Parris Campbell, WR Ohio State- Campbell is flying up draft boards after a very impressive combine. He displayed quickness in and out of cuts as well, something that we didn’t always get to see during his time at Ohio State. I think NFL teams view Campbell as a better version of Curtis Samuel, who went top 40 in his own right. Washington needs weapons for whoever their quarterback is, making Campbell a solid selection.
Editor’s Note: Obviously Washington is a great candidate to trade up for a quarterback, but a second option is them pursuing a QB already in the NFL like Josh Rosen or Derek Carr (hint hint, wink wink). If they choose the latter, they can trade backward, get some assets to further their pursuit of Rosen or Carr.
21) Seattle Seahawks: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, CB/FS Florida– CGJ is a definitive ball hawk, but it’s his versatility to man up in the slot and contribute from a single high position that will have him as the first safety off the board. Seattle is a tough team to predict, but a selection of Gardner-Johnson would help further advance the recreation of LOB 2.0.
22) Baltimore Ravens: N’Keal Harry, WR Arizona State- Baltimore has to find weapons for Lamar Jackson during this draft. Harry can move all around the field, winning route combinations from the boundary as well as the slot. His tape during the season combined with quality testing in Indianapolis should help him be a first round selection.
23) *Miami Dolphins via Houston Texans: Jeffery Simmons, DT Mississippi State- It’s not much of a secret that Miami is looking to rebuild over the next few seasons. This makes them a perfect team to draft a player like Jeffery Simmons.
Simmons is viewed by many as a top talent in this draft, but he tore his ACL during a workout in February. The Dolphins do not need him to contribute right away in year one, so why not trade backward and take an elite talent for the future?
24) *Arizona Cardinals from Oakland Raiders via Chicago Bears: Hakeem Butler, WR Iowa State- Regardless of whether the Cardinals stay with Josh Rosen or select Murray first overall, they will need to find weapons for whoever their QB is. Butler has freakish athleticism for someone of his size. His potential is off the charts if he can fix the drops that plagued him in college.
25) Philadelphia Eagles: Nasir Adderley, FS Delaware- Philly is a tough team to judge for prediction purposes because they have the ammo to move up high in this draft and land a big fish. However, I think it’s more likely that they stay put in round one, and look to trade up into the early portions of round two.
If they do stay here, a safety is a very likely selection. Malcolm Jenkins and Rodney McLeod are two sizable contracts for a team that will need to save money over the next two years in preparation to pay Carson Wentz.
26) Indianapolis Colts: AJ Brown, WR Ole Miss- In my personal mock drafts, I have been talking about this potential fit for months. Brown’s quickness in the short to intermediate windows out of the slot would be a huge boost to the Colts offense. It would allow T.Y. Hilton to see less double teams. I expect wide receiver to be the target for the Colts at 26, and Brown makes the most sense to me.
27) Oakland Raiders via Dallas Cowboys: Byron Murphy, CB Washington- Murphy’s size was a question heading into the combine. However, when scouts saw his footwork and technique during the on-field drills, the concerns went away. His versatility to do a number of different things and excel in multiple coverage schemes will have many teams jumping at the chance to take him in the backend of round one.
28) Los Angeles Chargers: Greedy Williams, CB LSU- Williams may be the most polarizing player in the draft, but I’m not sure that stops him from being selected in round one. He still has phenomenal collegiate production and very good ball skills. The Chargers secondary took a hit this offseason, particularly at corner. Assuming Desmond King goes back to being a full time nickel player/third safety, LAC needs a second boundary corner to play opposite Casey Hayward.
29) Seattle Seahawks via Kansas City Chiefs: Clelin Ferrell, EDGE Clemson- Ferrell has had a lackluster performance during the draft season, but I don’t think his draft stock will be too hampered by it. His tape is too good and his game is too complete for him to drop past the first 40 picks or so.
30) Green Bay Packers via New Orleans Saints: Chase Winovich, EDGE Michigan- Winovich has put together two terrific pre-draft workouts, both at the combine as well as the Michigan pro day. Throughout his tape he is constantly in the backfield, which shows in his tackles for loss totals during his final two years at Michigan. Now that he has answered some athletic questions, Winovich is most likely the surprise of the first round.
31) *New York Giants via Los Angeles Rams: Dexter Lawrence, DT/NT Clemson- The Giants appear to be in love with Lawrence’s skill set, but I don’t think he will make it to their selection at the top end of round two. To ensure they get their man, the Giants mortgage a few draft assets in a weaker draft class to come up and take a player they covet.
32) New England Patriots: TJ Hockenson, TE Iowa- Rob Gronkowski’s retirement puts offensive weapons at the top of the Patriots wish list for the 2019 draft. The Patriots will definitely attempt to move up for Noah Fant, but I think Bill Belichick is also very comfortable with staying put and seeing if he can land Hockenson or Irv Smith Jr. If he can somehow pull Hockenson, the rest of the NFL should be embarrassed and thoroughly terrified.
TRADES IN ROUND ONE
1- Oakland Raiders trade the #4, #24 and a 2020 1st Round Pick (from Chicago) to the Arizona Cardinals for the #1 and a 2020 3rd Round Pick.
2- Cincinnati Bengals trade the #11, #72 and a 2020 2nd Round Pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for the #7 and a 2020 5th Round Pick.
3- Houston Texans trade the #23, #54 and #55 to the Miami Dolphins for the #13 and #78.
4- Pittsburgh Steelers trade the #20, #83 and #122 to the Washington Redskins for the #15 and #206.
5- New York Giants trade the #37, #108 and #180 to the Los Angeles Rams for the #31.
ROUND TWO
33) Arizona Cardinals: Rock Ya-Sin, CB Temple- Arizona needs cornerback depth in the worst way. Outside of Patrick Peterson, it’s a giant question mark. Ya-Sin is a competitor and a ball hawk, two things that should compliment Peterson nicely considering all the targets Ya-Sin will see.
34) Indianapolis Colts via New York Jets: Anthony Nelson, EDGE/DE Iowa- I know Nelson is much higher on my personal board than he is being mocked by draft experts. Normally in this spot you would see a player like Jaylon Ferguson instead of my man Nelson.
However, I think NFL teams will agree with my analysis of Nelson. He’s just as technically sound as Clelin Ferrell, and despite the fact his first step isn’t quite as good on tape, he’s more adept at bending around the edge and running the arch.
Therefore, Nelson is the pick here and not Jaylon Ferguson.
35) Oakland Raiders: Josh Jacobs, RB Alabama- Oakland is now the frontrunner to land Jacobs after Marshawn Lynch decided to step away from football again. Whether they make that selection in round one or at the top or round two, it would take a miracle for one of the few three down runningbacks in this draft class to wind up elsewhere on draft day.
36) San Francisco 49ers: Deebo Samuel, WR South Carolina- The Niners need to find more weapons for Jimmy Garoppolo during this draft. Samuel has had a terrific draft process, shining ever since the Senior Bowl week back in January. He’s one of many quality pass catchers that will be selected on day two.
37) *Los Angeles Rams via New York Giants: Jachai Polite, EDGE Florida- Polite’s only saving grace to go in the first two rounds right now is the Rams. While Polite has had one of the worst Combine and Pro Day performances that I can remember, the one team he interviewed well with was the Rams. I still believe Polite stands a chance to be a good pro because his ability to come off the edge and generate pressure is so prevalent throughout his collegiate tape. This is why the Rams trade backwards and take him in round two.
Editor’s Note: An alternative move for the Rams could be to trade up in round three and try to snag him at the top of that round. If they believe he is truly off of many teams draft boards, they could look to do the same strategy with Polite that the Raiders did with Arden Key.
38) Jacksonville Jaguars: Darnell Savage, FS Maryland- A sneaky need for the Jaguars that they will most likely address early in this draft is a single high safety to keep their defense at the elite level it should be. Savage is that kind of player.
39) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, WR Oklahoma- The Bucs used a pre-draft visit on Hollywood Brown, which makes sense seeing as they need a deep threat to replace Desean Jackson. I’m not sure I would spend a top 40 selection on a third wideout in their offense, but that appears to be the direction they are headed.
40) Buffalo Bills: Kaleb McGary, OT/OG Washington- McGary is nowhere near this evaluation on my personal board, but his athleticism and supposed versatility is what has a lot of teams chomping at the bit for him in round two.
41) Denver Broncos: Garrett Bradbury, C NC State- Matt Paradis was a big loss for the Broncos, but he’s replaceable in the front end of the draft. Even though Bradbury is likely to go higher than this, players fall to round two that should have gone in round one all the time. In this draft, that player is Bradbury.
42) Cincinnati Bengals: Cody Ford, OT/OG Oklahoma- Cincinnati signed Bobby Hart to… uhh… let up sacks? It surely wasn’t to protect the passer. One can only hope they’re wise enough to just draft offensive line anyway and act as if the Bobby Hart signing never happened.
43) *Kansas City Chiefs via Detroit Lions: Erik McCoy, C/OG Texas A&M- McCoy is a very similar player to Garrett Bradbury, showing good athleticism in short areas, as well as the technique necessary to excel in pass protection. Much like the Broncos a few picks earlier with replacing Matt Paradis, Kansas City needs to replace Mitch Morse. They trade up a few spots to land McCoy.
44) Green Bay Packers: Irv Smith Jr., TE Alabama- Aaron Rodgers loves throwing to tight ends. The problem is, Rodgers has not had one that is truly a matchup problem in a long time. Irv Smith can block and he’s improved as a route runner. He’s a much better fit for the Packers current offense than Jimmy Graham.
45) *Philadelphia Eagles via Atlanta Falcons: Chris Lindstrom, OG Boston College- Atlanta has teased that they could trade down in this draft. If that truly is the draft strategy, it might make more sense to happen in round two rather than round one. Philadelphia could also trade in this draft, but their goal is to trade up not backward. Both teams could be perfect trade partners at some point in this draft.
Editor’s Note: Lindstrom is a good fit for either of these teams, but based on pre-draft workouts I think he’s more of a target for Philly than Atlanta. Hence the trade.
46) *Oakland Raiders via Washington Redskins: Jaylon Ferguson, EDGE Louisiana Tech- For some reason Ferguson’s three cone shuttle, which was north of eight seconds, has not scared NFL teams from talking about him on day two. Oakland acquires this selection by sending Derek Carr to Washington and takes Ferguson to double up on pass rushers in day two.
47) Carolina Panthers: Greg Little, OT Ole Miss- I really don’t like Little as a selection before day three, but Carolina has visited with him a lot throughout the draft process. He is most likely going to be picked on day two, and Carolina is a very likely destination for the former 5-Star recruit.
48) Miami Dolphins: Dalton Risner, OT/OG Kansas State- The Dolphins need to improve in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Risner can start on the right side of their offensive line from day one.
49) Cleveland Browns: Juan Thornhill, SS Virginia- Thornhill’s athleticism and ability to play downhill has teams very interested in him early in this draft. Many teams think he can be a chess piece in the backend of their defense. Thornhill makes sense as a target for the Browns because he can move around the field like Julius Peppers did.
50) Minnesota Vikings: Jerry Tillery, DT Notre Dame- Tillery is extremely athletic and a quality pass rusher along the interior. Minnesota needs an athletic starter next to Linval Joseph, making Saunders a perfect fit for them at 50.
51) Tennessee Titans: Khalen Saunders, DL Western Illinois- One of the best pound for pound athletes in this draft is Khalen Saunders. He’s a perfect fit in a 3-4 because he’s successful from multiple positions along the defensive front.
52) Pittsburgh Steelers: Justin Layne, CB Michigan State- Layne has emerged as a day two lock during the pre-draft process. He’s long, he’s athletic, and he shows big time potential in man-to-man situations. The Steelers still need a number two corner, making Layne a very likely selection in the second round if he is available.
53) *Atlanta Falcons from Philadelphia Eagles via Baltimore Ravens: Tytus Howard, OT Alabama State- Howard has ideal size and length for a right tackle, but he needs to continue to refine his technique in order to become a quality starter. This makes Atlanta an ideal destination because he would not have to start day one, unless he earned it.
54) *Miami Dolphins from Houston Texans via Seattle Seahawks: Emanuel Hall, WR Missouri- The Dolphins have lacked an explosive deep threat for a long time. Hall is a definitive burner that separates with speed and athleticism down the field. He’s a good target for Miami at some point during this draft.
55) *Miami Dolphins via Houston Texans: Jamel Dean, CB Auburn- Here’s a classic reach on day two because of a good combine. Dean showed enough on tape to make teams covet his sheer athleticism over some more technical corners.
56) New England Patriots via Chicago Bears: Andy Isabella, WR Massachusetts- I know Patriots fans would rather see Isabella later in the draft, but I think he tested too well at the Combine for the Pats to do that. Isabella’s route running, athleticism and solid hands make him a perfect fit for the Patriots offense.
57) Philadelphia Eagles: Mack Wilson, ILB Alabama- The buzz around Wilson has cooled during the latter portions of the draft process. Having said that, the off ball linebacker class is so weak that his tape and collegiate production should still have him as the third player off the board in this position group.
58) Dallas Cowboys: Deionte Thompson, FS Alabama- The Cowboys have visited with a ton of safeties during this offseason, making a selection of one at 58 very likely. Thompson is easily the best cover safety still on the board, so he is the pick here.
59) Indianapolis Colts: Iman Marshall, CB/FS/SS USC- Marshall is going to go much higher than he should on draft day, and I still have not figured out why. Many teams think he possesses the versatility to play nickel corner or a cover two safety position. When I figure out what they are basing this off of, I will let you all know.
60) Los Angeles Chargers: Yodny Cajuste, OT West Virginia- Offensive tackle is a sneaky need for the Chargers during this draft. Okung has been up and down during the last few years, and Sam Tevi is better served as a backup. Cajuste steps in and competes for a starting job from day one.
61) *Detroit Lions via Kansas City Chiefs: Lonnie Johnson Jr., CB Kentucky- Teez Tabor has not stepped up and grabbed the number two cornerback slot like the Lions had hoped. Johnson’s length and athleticism combined with his (presumed) ability in press coverage are the two aspects of his game that NFL teams find attractive.
62) New Orleans Saints: Joejuan Williams, CB Vanderbilt- Williams had a tough combine, but redeemed himself during the athletic testing portion of his pro day. He’s a long, physical corner with the ability to press and solid ball skills. His traits on tape combined with his improved athletic testing should have him as a day two selection.
63) *Detroit Lions from Kansas City Chiefs via Los Angeles Rams: Amani Hooker, FS Iowa- Detroit continues to revamp their secondary by selecting the best cover safety left on the board. While this could be a thumper like Taylor Rapp or Johnathan Abram, I’m going to take a chance on Hooker because of his versatility in coverage.
64) New England Patriots: Blake Cashman, ILB Minnesota- New England does have a few defensive needs in this draft, one of which is addressing their linebacking core. Outside of Kyle Van Noy, it’s a weak unit. Cashman is an athletic three down linebacker who shows a great understanding for gap assignments on tape.
TRADES IN ROUND TWO
1- Kansas City Chiefs trade the #61 and #63 to the Detroit Lions for the #43, #111 and #224.
2- Philadelphia Eagles trade the #53, #127 and #163 to the Atlanta Falcons for the #45 and #230.
3- Washington Redskins acquire Derek Carr and a 2020 3rd Round Pick from the Oakland Raiders in exchange for the #46 and 2020 Conditional 5th Round Pick.
ROUND THREE
65) Arizona Cardinals: Dawson Knox, TE Ole Miss
66) Pittsburgh Steelers via Oakland Raiders: Dennis Daley, OT South Carolina
67) San Francisco 49ers: Jimmy Moreland, CB James Madison
68) New York Jets: Elgton Jenkins, C Mississippi State
69) Jacksonville Jaguars: Terry McLaurin, WR Ohio State
70) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Johnathan Abram, SS Mississippi State
X) New York Giants- Forfeit Due to the Selection of Sam Beal in the Supplemental Draft
71) Denver Broncos: Isaiah Johnson, CB Houston
72) *Jacksonville Jaguars via Cincinnati Bengals: Jace Sternberger, TE Texas A&M
73) New England Patriots via Detroit Lions: Charles Omenihu, DL Texas
74) Buffalo Bills: Maxx Crosby, EDGE Eastern Michigan
75) Green Bay Packers: Michael Dieter, OL Wisconsin
76) Washington Redskins: Amani Oruwariye, CB Penn State
77) Carolina Panthers: Taylor Rapp, SS Washington
78) *Houston Texans via Miami Dolphins: Trysten Hill, DT/NT UCF
79) Atlanta Falcons: DeAndre Baker, CB Georgia
80) Cleveland Browns: Trayvon Mullen, CB Clemson
81) Minnesota Vikings: Michael Jordan, OG/C Ohio State
82) Tennessee Titans: JJ Arcega-Whiteside, WR Stanford
83) *Washington Redskins via Pittsburgh Steelers: Kelvin Harmon, WR NC State
84) Seattle Seahawks: LJ Collier, DL TCU
85) Baltimore Ravens: Ben Banogu, EDGE TCU
86) Houston Texans: Connor McGovern, OG/C Penn State
87) Chicago Bears: David Long, CB Michigan
88) Detroit Lions via Philadelphia Eagles: Dru Samia, OG Oklahoma
89) Indianapolis Colts: Renell Wren, DT Arizona State
90) Dallas Cowboys: Zach Allen, DL Boston College
91) Los Angeles Chargers: Kingsley Keke, DL Texas A&M
92) Kansas City Chiefs: Christian Miller, EDGE Alabama
93) New York Jets via New Orleans Saints: Sean Bunting, CB Central Michigan
94) Los Angeles Rams: Bobby Evans, OT/OG Oklahoma
95) New York Giants from Cleveland Browns via New England Patriots: David Edwards, OT Wisconsin
96) Washington Redskins: Nate Davis, OL Charlotte
97) New England Patriots: Tyree Jackson, QB Buffalo
98) Jacksonville Jaguars via Los Angeles Rams: David Montgomery, RB Iowa State
99) Los Angeles Rams: Sheldrick Redwine, FS/SS Miami
100) Carolina Panthers: Damien Harris, RB Alabama
101) New England Patriots: Riley Ridley, WR Georgia
102) Baltimore Ravens: Germaine Pratt, ILB NC State
2019 Fans Only Mock Draft
Welcome to the second annual (except we missed last year, but who’s counting?) Fans Only Mock Draft! This mock draft is strictly what you the fans want to see your favorite teams do on draft day. I sent out a few social media statuses asking for fans of teams to sign up for this mock and make a selection (or fans of the draft in general, it did not have to be the team you rooted for), and I’m so happy we got enough people to put this together for this year. This is one of my favorite things to do during the draft season. I love seeing all of your opinions on what you think your team should look for, or what you think of certain prospects.
A few disclaimers before we get underway. Almost everyone made one selection, except for me who chose to own two teams that were unfilled, and Mike Reynolds, who some of you may remember used to be a part of DraftStock.net and will contribute again starting next year. Mike made a few selections based on his knowledge of the draft prospects and his own rankings of players and scheme fits, just like I did.
However, this was not the way everyone chose to approach it. Some of the selections are strictly what the individual fan (or journalist, as you will see later on) thought the team would do based on the way the board fell. On top of making the selection, I also offered each person the opportunity to provide analysis should they be so inclined. I also offered my own analysis on each selection, I hope I didn’t critique too harshly.
Next order of business, there were no trades during this mock draft, and it’s only one round. I would love to open it up to two rounds and trades in the future, but more participation will be required. So if you’re reading this and enjoy the premise, please sign up next year. The more the merrier.
Lastly, I want to thank all those that participated. I think this is a really cool idea and hopefully I am able to get more participation next year so that we can extend this particular mock and make it more in depth.
ROUND ONE
1) Arizona Cardinals: Nick Bosa, EDGE Ohio State (Selected by Frank Barbuti)
Fan’s Analysis: Kyler Murray is just not worthy of a top selection. Josh Rosen was selected last year, no reason to pivot off of one year for someone who isn’t as good. Take Bosa and don’t overthink it.
Katz’s Kritique: No arguments here. Bosa is the best player in this draft, EDGE is a need long term, and I had Rosen graded significantly higher last year than I have Murray this year. I wouldn’t pivot the franchise’s direction just because Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury likes Murray. If Kingsbury is truly an offensive guru, he should be able to turn Rosen into a good starter.
2) San Francisco 49ers: Quinnen Williams, DT Alabama (Selected by Nick DePinho)
Fan’s Analysis: Williams is the clear cut best player available. He also fills a need.
Katz’s Kritique: If Bosa is selected first, Quinnen Williams will be the obvious pick here. He would line up next to DeForest Buckner, creating one of the best young tandems along the defensive front in the NFL. If Murray goes first and not Bosa, it will be very interesting to see if Williams is the pick here or if the Niners go Bosa and move Arik Armstead inside.
3) New York Jets: Josh Allen, EDGE Kentucky (Selected by Anthony Zanfini)
Fan’s Analysis: Obviously the Jets would love to trade here, but with no trades in this mock draft the Jets will look for a pass rusher. For years the Jets have needed a QB and an Edge Rusher. Last year they finally got their quarterback in Sam Darnold and this year they will find their pass rusher in Allen.
Katz’s Kritique: In a mock draft with trades, the Jets would get a plethora of offers with Murray still on the board. In this one, Allen feels like the obvious selection to many fans, but it’s not where I would go. I like Allen as a player, he’s a good pass rusher and a fluid athlete. Having said that, his draft stock is just way too high for me (I have a second round grade on him). Assuming Bosa and Williams were both gone and the Jets could not trade, Brian Burns would be the EDGE guy I would prefer.
4) Oakland Raiders: Ed Oliver, DT Houston (Selected by Justin Katz)
Fan’s Analysis: Oliver is my number two player this year and he fits a need. This is a no-brainer.
Katz’s Kritique: I think Oliver is a fine pick here. He answers a need for the Raiders along the defensive line, and his quickness allows him to be an impactful pass rusher from the interior. However, do not be shocked if Oakland looks to draft a quarterback here instead of looking for the BPA at a position of need.
5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kyler Murray, QB Oklahoma (Selected by Maxx McNall)
Fan’s Analysis: Time for the first curveball of the 2019 Fans Only Mock Draft. One quality player like Devin White or Jonah Williams will not be enough to make this team a playoff contender, so they might as well draft a potential QB of the future with a good head on his shoulders. Jameis Winston has not done anything over his career thus far to warrant a second contract as a starter, and I love the way Murray plays. I would trade Winston now and select Murray if he fell to this spot.
Katz’s Kritique: Well, this is certainly a curveball. This is essentially what the Raiders are considering doing with Derek Carr, however this one is probably more justified. Winston is on his fifth year option, which means one of two things will happen. Either he will light it up with Bruce Arians at the helm and get a massive contract based on one year, or flop, leaving the Bucs without a starter heading into 2020. I would not make this move, but if you are a fan of Murray, it’s not a bad move to consider.
6) New York Giants: Dwayne Haskins, QB Ohio State (Selected by Adam Figueiredo)
Fan’s Analysis: The Giants need a quarterback of the future, and they select one here. Although having minimal starts in college is a concern for Haskins, he played well against the top-ranked teams. He will also get to sit for a year, which should help him understand defenses better. The Giants could always wait until next year for their QB of the future, but selecting one here gives the Giants a clear direction. Haskins has prototypical size, good arm talent and conducts himself the the right way… for whatever that’s worth.
Katz’s Kritique: Adam and I are good friends and I know he agrees with me when I give this criticism. THIS IS THE PROBLEM WITH SELECTING SAQUON BARKLEY LAST YEAR! Barkley was a win now selection, and the Giants didn’t do that. They are now stuck in a rebuild/reload with zero direction like Adam alluded to. Even if the Giants are able to turn this around in two years, you’ve wasted close to half of Barkley’s prime being a mediocre team. If you select Sam Darnold last year, maybe the Giants could’ve signed a guy like Tevin Coleman or Mark Ingram, and they would be in a position to compete this year with Darnold at the helm. Instead, the Giants are going to pursue a QB in a weak QB class. That should go over well…
7) Jacksonville Jaguars: Jawaan Taylor, OT Florida (Selected by Jon Alba)
Katz’s Kritique: Jon covers the Jaguars down in Florida so there’s no fan analysis here since this is a prediction on what the Jaguars might do. Taylor would solidify a major need at right tackle, and he would bring some attitude to the Jaguars OL.
8) Detroit Lions: Rashan Gary, EDGE Michigan (Selected by Me)
Katz’s Kritique: I threw an idea here that could be an interesting change of pace from things you may be seeing predicted right now. Detroit needs an EDGE rusher opposite Trey Flowers, and I think Head Coach Matt Patricia will want flexibility along his defensive front in order to run multiple sets. Gary could easily be the pick the Lions make at eight because he can play a three or five tech, and his athleticism allows him to be a chess piece along the defensive front.
9) Buffalo Bills: Jonah Williams, OL Alabama (Selected by Danny Feighery)
Fan’s Analysis: N/A
Katz’s Kritique: I love this pick. I don’t think it’s going to happen because the Bills made a lot of free agent signings along the offensive line, but I don’t think any of them were particularly noteworthy besides Mitch Morse. On top of that, Dion Dawkins is not a starting left tackle. Jonah Williams, on the other hand, is.
10) Denver Broncos: Devin White, ILB LSU (Selected by Chris Emery)
Fan’s Analysis: Can’t go wrong here with either Devin, be that Devin White or Devin Bush. I’m a huge fan of Devin Bush, but White being available at 10 is too much value to pass on.
Katz’s Kritique: It makes me happy to see this pick not being a quarterback, even though a quarterback is probably what John Elway will select on draft day. The analysis here is spot on as well, Bush is a three down linebacker just like White, he’s just not as good.
11) Cincinnati Bengals: Andre Dillard, OT Washington State (Selected by Mike Reynolds)
Mike’s Analysis: Do Not Start Bobby Hart. That’s the reasoning behind this pick.
Katz’s Kritique: Cincinnati’s offensive line needs a major overhaul, and the signing of Bobby Hart only made the unit worse in terms of their projection for next season. Offensive line remains a major need heading into the draft.
12) Green Bay Packers: Noah Fant, TE Iowa (Selected by Steve Reynolds)
Fan’s Analysis: N/A
Katz’s Kritique: Jimmy Graham was not the player the Packers thought he would be, but Fant most definitely is. He is a complete player for the position, excelling as a blocker and showing quickness at the top of the stem. He separates in route combinations with athleticism as well as his size, which is a matchup nightmare when you’ve got a guy like Aaron Rodgers at the helm.
13) Miami Dolphins: DK Metcalf, WR Ole Miss (Selected by Tim Fletcher)
Fan’s Analysis: The Dolphins haven’t had anyone to blow the top off a defense and make the tough catches on the deep ball for years. Having a number one target in place for the Quarterback the Dolphins will most assuredly draft next year can ease the transition for that QB.
Katz’s Kritique: Superman lands in Miami in this mock draft. Metcalf is a great pick for anyone, especially a team that is in desperate need of a number one receiver.
14) Atlanta Falcons: Montez Sweat, EDGE Mississippi State (Selected by JP Lalumia)
Fan’s Analysis: Sweat answers the real need along the Falcons defensive front. They can afford one of Vic Beasley or Grady Jarrett, but not both. The answer should be letting Beasley walk and giving Jarrett a long term deal next offseason.
Katz’s Kritique: I’m not saying I would rule this scenario out, but I would say it’s unlikely the Falcons look for EDGE at 14 here. If Ed Oliver is off the board, I would expect a guy like Christian Wilkins to be the pick if they go along the defensive front. Having said that, Jarrett looks much more deserving of a long term contract right now than Beasley.
15) Washington Redskins: N’Keal Harry, WR Arizona State (Selected by Mike Reynolds)
Mike’s Analysis: The Redskins need a true number one receiver for whoever their QB winds up being in 2019. Harry is that guy.
Katz’s Kritique: Harry is one of a multitude of elite level pass catchers that will be selected during the first 100 picks of this draft. Washington should try to revamp their lackluster receiving core this year instead of selecting a quarterback to “make their receiving core better.”
16) Carolina Panthers: Brian Burns, EDGE Florida State (Selected by Mike Reynolds)
Fan’s Analysis: Burns is an elite level pass rusher. His ability to run the arch is second to very few in this draft.
Katz’s Kritique: Burns is a top five player on my board, so grabbing him at 16 is a home run in my book. It’s nice to see Mike finally make a pick for his favorite team during this mock.
17) New York Giants via Cleveland Browns: Cody Ford, OT/OG Oklahoma (Selected by Adam Figueiredo)
Fan’s Analysis: Although I’m tempted to get an EDGE rusher like Clelin Ferrell, I’ll take Cody Ford. Anyone who has watched the Giants extensively the past few years knows how frustrating it has been to have human turnstiles on the offensive line. Although Spencer Pulley and Jon Halapio are huge question marks at center (even though Halapio was decent up until he broke his leg), I think adding Ford to a line with Nate Solder, Will Hernandez, and Kevin Zeitler will make a solid unit.
Katz’s Kritique: My only criticism here is where Ford would play. I have Ford graded much higher as a guard than a tackle, and his athletic testing at the Combine confirmed my guard projection of him in the NFL. It would be interesting to see how he would fare at Right Tackle.
18) Minnesota Vikings: Chris Lindstrom, OG Boston College (Selected by Alex Ankier)
Fan’s Analysis: Right now, the Vikings have the most putrid interior line in the NFL. Any first round pick should go to address that need. With Cody Ford off the board, the Vikings should reach for Lindstrom.
Katz’s Kritique: If you have read my mock drafts, you know how high I am on Lindstrom. I do not think this is a reach at all, but I think the masses would agree with Alex. Despite this, I think the masses would also agree that offensive line is priority number one for the Vikings at 18.
19) Tennessee Titans: Clelin Ferrell, EDGE Clemson (Selected by Anonymous)
Katz’s Kritique: Boy is this a horrible fit. Ferrell showed very little ability to dip and bend on tape, and his combine performance in the drills that would translate to that skill was subpar. Now you’re going to ask him to stand up and rush in a 3-4? Hard pass.
20) Pittsburgh Steelers: Byron Murphy, CB Washington (Selected by Nick Prevete)
Fan’s Analysis: The Steelers need cornerbacks desperately and Murphy is the best guy in this class.
Katz’s Kritique: That analysis was basically all that needed to be said, but let’s dive even further into why this is a phenomenal selection. Murphy excels in off coverage, something the Steelers do a lot of. He can also mirror receivers from either the boundary or nickel position (the Steelers like their corners to be versatile). This is the ideal pick for Pittsburgh in round one, in my opinion.
21) Seattle Seahawks: Christian Wilkins, DT Clemson (Selected by Mama Katz)
Katz’s Kritique: Mama Katz couldn’t own the Jets, but she still wanted to make a pick in this draft. She did an excellent job, as you would have expected. Wilkins is quick off the ball, he plays with attitude and he competes on every down. He’s terrific on the backside of plays too. Wilkins is smart and athletic, a perfect fit for Seattle’s defense.
22) Baltimore Ravens: Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, WR Oklahoma (Selected by Ray Perlman)
Fan’s Analysis: Lamar Jackson needs weapons during this draft, particularly ones that can stretch the field. No one is a better deep ball receiver in this draft than Hollywood Brown.
Katz’s Kritique: Brown is also explosive with the ball in his hands, I think that’s a key to this pick that cannot be overstated. Jackson is still going to play like a collegiate quarterback in the sense of the offense being predicated on quick hitters and then the occasional deep shot. The pseudo west coast offense will be perfect for Brown.
23) Houston Texans: Garrett Bradbury, C NC State (Selected by Anonymous)
Katz’s Kritique: Can you really criticize the Texans taking an offensive lineman?
24) Oakland Raiders via Chicago Bears: Greedy Williams, CB LSU (Selected by Justin Katz)
Fan’s Analysis: The Raiders need a number two corner opposite Gareon Conley. Williams has the length, ball skills and straight line speed to be a quality player in the NFL.
Katz’s Kritique: I like this fit a lot. Jon Gruden likes defensive backs that excel in man coverage, and that is Greedy Williams in a nutshell. Allow him mirror and trail receivers, and watch him go to work.
25) Philadelphia Eagles: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, FS Florida (Selected by Anonymous)
Katz’s Kritique: I’m not the biggest fan of CGJ, but Eagles fans across the NFL Draft forums like Reddit, Discord, and those I see on Twitter seem to love this fit. They all like CGJ’s ability to locate the ball from the single high spot and go chase it.
26) Indianapolis Colts: AJ Brown, WR Ole Miss (Selected by Mike Reynolds)
Mike’s Analysis: It’s weird to say that the Colts need receivers after all the years they spent taking receivers highly, but here we are. Brown should compliment T.Y Hilton very nicely.
Katz’s Kritique: Bump.
27) Oakland Raiders via Dallas Cowboys: TJ Hockenson, TE Iowa (Selected by Justin Katz)
Fan’s Analysis: I get a top ten player on everyone’s board at 27? At a position of need? This seems easy.
Katz’s Kritique: Easy selection indeed. Hockenson’s game is tailor-made for a Jon Gruden offense.
28) Los Angeles Chargers: Dexter Lawrence, DT/NT Clemson (Selected by Me)
Katz’s Kritique: This was the second team I chose to own, strictly because I love the scheme fit. Lawrence would be a huge boost to the Chargers run defense, he can collapse the pocket as a pass rusher, and he’s a space eater, which allows the athletes of the Chargers defense to step up and make plays.
29) Kansas City Chiefs: DeAndre Baker, CB Georgia (Selected by Mark Spillane)
Katz’s Kritique: Like Jon with Jacksonville, Mark covers the Chiefs, making this more of an educated guess than a “what the fans would want.” Just like Jon’s pick, the two happen to coincide. Baker fills the biggest need for the Chiefs during this draft; secondary.
30) Green Bay Packers via New Orleans Saints: Devin Bush, ILB Michigan (Selected by Steve Reynolds)
Katz’s Kritique: Bush most assuredly will not make it here on draft day, but this could definitely be a selection Green Bay makes at 12 instead. Bush is a three down linebacker, he’s a leader, and he’s very quality cover linebacker. The fit makes a ton of sense, but if Green Bay wants him, they will have to take him at 12.
31) Los Angeles Rams: Chase Winovich, EDGE Michigan (Selected by Anonymous)
Katz’s Kritique: The Rams are most likely going to trade down on draft day, but that’s not a play you can make in this particular mock draft. This is a little high for Winovich for me personally, but I think he has a real chance to go round one in a few weeks.
32) New England Patriots: Hakeem Butler, WR Iowa State (Selected by Daniel Katz)
Fan’s Analysis: On Draft day I want to see the Patriots trade up for Noah Fant or TJ Hockenson. In this mock, Butler is a solid consolation prize. Butler is a freak of nature, with the ability to make some unbelievable catches. If his drops can be corrected, he should be able to dominate with Tom Brady throwing him the ball.
Katz’s Kritique: As a Jets fan, this is something I would rather not see. Tom Brady throwing to a receiver that is 6’5, runs a sub 4.5 40, and has the quickness to separate at all three levels. Butler even lined up in the slot at Iowa State and was able to sink his hips into the route and create space from there as well. This is something the league would rather not see happen.
Jordan Katz 2019 Big Board 2.0: Top 75
This is my current Big Board for the 2019 Draft Season. This may not be representative of my personal mock drafts or my prediction mock drafts. This is strictly my grading of players in this year’s draft class.
1) Nick Bosa, EDGE Ohio State
2) DK Metcalf, WR Ole Miss
3) Brian Burns, EDGE Florida State
4) Jonah Williams, OT Alabama
5) Quinnen Williams, DT Alabama
6) Ed Oliver, DT Houston
7) Chris Lindstrom, OG Boston College
8) Montez Sweat, EDGE Mississippi State
9) TJ Hockenson, TE Iowa
10) Byron Murphy, CB Washington
11) Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, WR Oklahoma
12) Rashan Gary, DL Michigan
13) Jeffery Simmons, DT Mississippi State
14) Anthony Nelson, EDGE Iowa
15) Christian Wilkins, DT Clemson
16) Devin White, ILB LSU
17) N’Keal Harry, WR Arizona State
18) Clelin Ferrell, EDGE Clemson
19) Dexter Lawrence, DT/NT Clemson
20) Rock Ya-Sin, CB Temple
21) Josh Allen, EDGE Kentucky
22) AJ Brown, WR Ole Miss
23) Jawaan Taylor, OT Florida
24) Kelvin Harmon, WR NC State
25) Erik McCoy, OG/C Texas A&M
26) Deionte Thompson, FS Alabama
27) Garrett Bradbury, OG/C NC State
28) Irv Smith Jr., TE Alabama
29) Khalen Saunders, DT Western Illinois
30) Greedy Williams, CB LSU
31) Devin Bush, ILB Michigan
32) Amani Oruwariye, CB Penn State
33) Nasir Adderley, FS Delaware
34) Andre Dillard, OT Washington State
35) Deebo Samuel, WR South Carolina
36) Josh Jacobs, RB Alabama
37) Mack Wilson, ILB Alabama
38) Justin Layne, CB Michigan State
39) Cody Ford, OG/OT Oklahoma
40) Jachai Polite, EDGE Florida*
41) Kyler Murray, QB Oklahoma
42) Hakeem Butler, WR Iowa State
43) Charles Omenihu, DL Texas
44) Renell Wren, DT/NT Arizona State
45) Andy Isabella, WR UMASS
46) Joejuan Williams, CB Vanderbilt
47) Yodny Cajuste, OT West Virginia
48) Jerry Tillery, DT Notre Dame
49) Parris Campbell, WR Ohio State
50) Elgton Jenkins, OG/C Mississippi State
51) Trayvon Mullen, CB Clemson
52) Johnathan Abram, SS Mississippi State
53) Tytus Howard, OT Alabama State
54) Riley Ridley, WR Georgia
55) Jace Sternberger, TE Texas A&M
56) Christian Miller, EDGE Alabama
57) Chase Winovich, EDGE Michigan
58) Trysten Hill, DT UCF
59) David Long, CB Michigan
60) David Edwards, OT Wisconsin
61) Nate Davis, OG Charlotte
62) Amani Hooker, FS Iowa
63) Emanuel Hall, WR Missouri
64) Damarkus Lodge, WR Ole Miss
65) JJ Arcega-Whiteside, WR Stanford
66) Damien Harris, RB Alabama
67) Oshane Ximines, EDGE Old Dominion
68) Dawson Knox, TE Ole Miss
69) Blake Cashman, ILB Minnesota
70) Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, CB/FS Florida
71) Darnell Savage, FS Maryland
72) Dwayne Haskins, QB Ohio State
73) DeAndre Baker, CB Georgia
74) Kahale Warring, TE San Diego State
75) Maxx Crosby, EDGE Eastern Michigan
Editor’s Note: The asterisk next to Jachai Polite is because of what he is doing during the draft process. His tape is still very strong but his stock is plummeting because of off the field questions. Tough to evaluate where to put him in a big board.
Jordan Katz 2019 NFL Mock Draft 5.0
It’s been a few weeks since the last installment of my personal Mock Drafts. Now that the Combine has ended, as well as the first wave of free agency, it’s time to get back on the Mock Draft bandwagon.
The Combine did me a big solid this year by confirming a lot of things I saw on tape. I didn’t have to go back and re-watch many of the players that I was high or low on, because the athletic testing and drill portions of the combine not only confirmed players I was high on, but exposed weakness of players I was lower on.
Having said that, there were still some testing results that I didn’t see coming. For example, Devin Bush showing elite level athleticism, which I did not see coming. I thought he was fluid, but he showed the kind of stuff that a round one linebacker is made of (I still have a round two grade on him, but you will see him much higher in this mock). A reverse example would be Greedy Williams, who really struggled during the on the field drills. His backpedal and ability to flip his hips out of the backpedal were oddly erratic. Williams became even more polarizing after the weekend in Indianapolis.
These are just two examples of a few different things you will see in this mock draft. As always, trades are denoted with an asterisk, and both teams have to be in a position to make a deal happen. That’s why you won’t see any trades in the top 5, even though that will definitely take place in my Prediction Mock Draft (the goal there is to get every selection correct). This is strictly what I would do if I was the GM for every team. Let’s get to it.
ROUND ONE
1) Arizona Cardinals: Nick Bosa, EDGE Ohio State- Bosa’s three cone time and workout during the drills should leave little doubt that he is the best player in this draft. When you factor in his terrific tape, it leaves you puzzled as to why the Cardinals might go Kyler Murray at one instead of Bosa.
2) San Francisco 49ers: Quinnen Williams, DT Alabama- The Niners are essentially penciled in to a pass rusher in some fashion if they keep the second overall selection. Williams goes here in a second straight mock draft for me because of his ability to create pressure along the interior.
3) New York Jets: Brian Burns, EDGE Florida State- With the Jets still being unable to trade out of the third selection, they move to selecting their biggest need. Burns goes here because of his ability to dip and bend around the edge and the fact that he has the frame to bulk up and play the run without losing the athleticism that makes him a top prospect. He can also work back to the QB with a strong move-set if the tackle takes the arch away.
4) Oakland Raiders: Ed Oliver, DT Houston- Oliver should’ve worked out at the combine. Even if he tested in a lower bracket athletically than people thought, not only would it have been forgiven because he clearly put on water weight, but he also still would’ve tested as one of the better pound for pound athletes at the combine. This may have locked him into the 9-15 range come April, however I would take him before that. He’s lightning quick off the line, he can stack and shed, and he can collapse the pocket as a pass rusher.
5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jonah Williams, OT Alabama- Tampa Bay’s offense should be much improved under the coaching of Bruce Arians. In order for this to happen though, the Bucs offensive line has to improve in 2019.
Williams has all-pro potential at guard or tackle. I think he is far and away the best offensive lineman in this draft, and well worthy of a top five selection in this draft.
6) New York Giants: Montez Sweat, EDGE Mississippi State- There’s a really good chance that the Giants would take a Quarterback here as their future starter, then use the rest of the draft to address other needs. I think this is a massive mistake. Why rush to take a mediocre QB when you can wait a year for guys like Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert? Or, if you are with David Gettleman, and truly believe that Eli Manning has a few good years left (you’d also be wrong, but that’s neither here nor there), why not wait for Trevor Lawrence? The Giants would be better off continuing to rebuild this roster and inserting the Quarterback last.
Therefore, if I were running the Giants, I would take an elite edge talent like Sweat, trade down from 17 (we’ll get to that later), and wait on the QB until next year.
7) Jacksonville Jaguars: DK Metcalf, WR Ole Miss- The Jaguars will want to open up their offense in 2019 behind Nick Foles. The problem is, they currently do not have an elite target to allow them to do so.
Metcalf has some negative buzz because of his three cone and short shuttle, but that’s just lazy scouting. When you watch the tape, you see a player who destroys corners at the line of scrimmage, and can sink his hips to allow himself to separate in and out of cuts. He obviously wins over the top as well as anyone we’ve seen in a while, but his route running being “subpar,” is a farce. This dude is an elite talent.
8) Detroit Lions: Byron Murphy, CB Washington- Murphy is far and away my top cornerback in a weak draft class, which means he lands himself in the Top 10. Matt Patricia looks to use his corners aggressively, which also make Murphy a perfect fit. He can man up defenders on the boundary as well as from the slot, and his footwork is tremendous in off coverage. His versatility opposite Darius Slay will be a big boost to the Lions defense.
9) *Washington Redskins via Buffalo Bills: Kyler Murray, QB Oklahoma- Washington still makes sense to aggressively pursue Murray if he falls past the Cardinals at the top spot. They need a true playmaker at the quarterback position, and that guy is most assuredly not Case Keenum. Washington jumps Cincinnati and selects their quarterback of the future.
10) Denver Broncos: Devin White, ILB LSU- Devin Bush was the talk of the combine for the off ball linebackers, and rightfully so because his combine was tremendous. However, Devin White tested equally as athletic. White’s tape is much better than Devin Bush, so I still think he should be the first Devin off the board in 2019.
11) Cincinnati Bengals: Jawaan Taylor, OT Florida- Bobby Hart was the worst contract of Free Agency 2019. There’s no reason that Hart should be starting on a team in 2019. In fact, there’s so little reason that I’m still giving the Bengals a right tackle at 11 if I was in charge of the draft.
Taylor is a mauler in the run game and he excels when he’s able to get his hands on defenders early in the play. He would give the Bengals offensive line some much needed toughness.
12) Green Bay Packers: Devin Bush, ILB Michigan- As I mentioned earlier, Bush wowed in Indy. He showed elite athleticism and insane fluidity in his hips. I think he has a tendency to over pursue on tape, but that’s a flaw of all three of the top inside linebackers in this draft. I was pleasantly surprised by his tape all year and he’s worthy of ILB2 on my board after a superb showing at the combine.
Editor’s Note: This is still super early for Bush to go off the board based on my big board, but because ILB is so thin this year and the Packers need a signal caller in the middle of the defense, Bush gets catapulted up the draft board.
13) Miami Dolphins: Chris Lindstrom, OG Boston College- Miami has clearly entered a rebuild, which lends itself to “BPA,” being the selection at 13 if they cannot trade down. Lindstrom is a 10 year starter at guard in the NFL with All-Pro potential. He has little to no weaknesses in his technique and he can start on the left or right side.
14) Atlanta Falcons: Jeffery Simmons, DT Mississippi State- I know Simmons is set to miss the first month or so of the season because of an ACL tear, but his talent and tape still warrant him to be a top 20 selection. If your defense is in a position to wait for Simmons to come back, his pass rushing ability will make him well worth the wait. Putting Simmons next to Grady Jarrett could create a phenomenal interior pass rush.
15) *Buffalo Bills via Washington Redskins: Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, WR Oklahoma- The Bills did make a lot of acquisitions to their offense, but I wouldn’t call any of them significant. They still need a true playmaker to bring the added dimension that their offense is missing.
Brown can beat the defense over the top, he’s a better route runner in and out of cuts than many are advertising, and most importantly for the Bills, he’s explosive with the ball in his hands.
16) Carolina Panthers: Rashan Gary, DL Michigan- If the Panthers are looking for the bigger 4-3 defensive end that they have used so effectively over the last 15+ years, Gary falling to 16 would be a home run. I still believe he’s better as a three technique, but his power and athleticism on the edge could make him a matchup nightmare for teams at the next level, particularly the ones going to smaller and more athletic offensive tackles.
17) *New England Patriots from New York Giants via Cleveland Browns: Noah Fant, TE Iowa- Can you figure out what I would do if I was the Patriots yet? New England has 12 draft picks in a noticeably weak draft class. That lends itself to doing one of two things; either trade up and land a player they covet, or trade for assets next year. Fant has slid down the board twice, and lord knows the Patriots would love to find a scenario where they could trade up for one of the two stud tight ends in this draft.
The Giants also have 12 selections in this draft. So why would it make sense for the Giants to trade backward and acquire more assets in a weak draft class? The answer is very simple; the Giants roster is a mess. They need picks now, later and in the future. The more assets they have, the better chances there are of them being able to draft contributors this year and pick up future selections.
18) Minnesota Vikings: Cody Ford, OG/OT Oklahoma- Ford is a better scheme fit than Andre Dillard because of his ability in the run game. I think interior line play is the biggest need along the front for the Vikings, so Ford makes more sense than Dillard in that regard as well.
19) Tennessee Titans: TJ Hockenson, TE Iowa- If one of the Iowa tight ends are on the board here at 19, I cannot see a way the Titans pass. They need a legitimate threat on third downs in the middle of the field, and someone who can block in the run game. In short, they need TJ Hockenson.
20) Pittsburgh Steelers: Rock Ya-Sin, CB Temple- Ya-Sin has highs and lows on tape, but the potential to be a quality starter is very noticeable. I like his ability to mirror receivers and he drives well off of his back foot in off coverages. He makes a lot of plays on the ball as well. Pittsburgh uses a lot of different looks in the secondary, so the scheme fit makes a lot of sense.
21) Seattle Seahawks: Christian Wilkins, DT Clemson- Wilkins uses his quickness in both the run and pass game to create disruptive plays time and time again. His athleticism and intelligence along the defensive would be a big boost to the Seahawks front four.
22) Baltimore Ravens: N’Keal Harry, WR Arizona State- The Ravens lost some key pieces in free agency, but the number one goal for the offseason remains getting Lamar Jackson weapons. Harry put to rest any questions about his ability to stretch the field at the combine, showing quality numbers in the 40 as well as the agility drills. Harry’s best trait is his ability with the ball in his hands, which will allow Baltimore to use him in a number of different ways and make him a chess piece in what I still suspect will be a semi-unconventional offense.
23) Houston Texans: Andre Dillard, OT Washington State- Houston needs offensive line. That’s all the analysis needed here.
24) Oakland Raiders via Chicago Bears: Anthony Nelson, EDGE/DE Iowa- All throughout the draft process I’ve been a huge fan of Nelson. He was incredibly similar to Clelin Ferrell on tape, winning with technique at the line of scrimmage instead of sheer dip and bend ability. What I thought separated him was he possessed the ability to run the arch, and his quickness off the line was much better. After the agility drills at the combine, Nelson solidified himself as the round one talent I saw on tape.
25) Philadelphia Eagles: Josh Jacobs, RB Alabama- Jacobs ran a less than impressive 40 time at his pro day, but that’s not a death sentence. Alvin Kamara and Le’Veon Bell didn’t have impressive times either, and they still excel in the pass game. To me, his value in a mock draft as well on my big board remains unchanged. Philly is a team that can reach for him in the backend of round one because they need a game changer at running back.
26) Indianapolis Colts: AJ Brown, WR Ole Miss- Brown is a perfect complimentary piece to T.Y. Hilton. He excels in the short to intermediate window, separating with quickness at the line of scrimmage and out of the break. The Colts signed Devin Funchess for a year to be a quick fix to their receiving core, but they still need a playmaker out of the slot.
27) Oakland Raiders via Dallas Cowboys: Greedy Williams, CB LSU- I think Williams can still be a quality cornerback in the NFL. His drill portion of his combine workout was a struggle, but he has phenomenal athleticism, good ball skills and the ability to mirror receivers. If his footwork can improve in off coverage, and he learns to become more physical, Williams could be the top flight corner many thought he was.
28) Los Angeles Chargers: Dexter Lawrence, NT Clemson- Even though the Chargers signed Brandon Mebane, they still need size up front. Lawrence is a dominant nose tackle against the run, and he’s athletic enough to play on passing downs. He can help collapse the pocket and create one-on-ones for the Chargers dominant pass rushers.
29) Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Allen, EDGE Kentucky- By now you all know that I’m lower on Josh Allen than the media is, but what a fit this would be. Allen’s ability to dip and bend around the edge would be a phenomenal compliment to Chris Jones’ ability to generate pressure from the interior.
Editor’s Note: I don’t think Allen is as good at using his hands to gain leverage as some of the other rushers in this draft. That’s the rationale to me having him lower on my board.
30) Green Bay Packers via New Orleans Saints: Irv Smith Jr., TE Alabama- I know the Packers signed Marcedes Lewis and still have Jimmy Graham, but neither are the players they used to be. Smith is a legitimate playmaker in the middle of the field, he would immediately be their best run blocker at the position, and he’s improving as a route runner.
31) *Denver Broncos via Los Angeles Rams: Dwayne Haskins, QB Ohio State- I still love the idea of a team that needs a QB of the future trading up into round one to get the fifth year option on the player of choice instead of overdrafting him in the top half of round one. If you have to trade up anyway, why not wait until the point where you can give less draft capital instead of panicking and trying to make lemonade out of oranges in the top 10?
32) *New York Giants via New England Patriots: Erik McCoy, OG/C Texas A&M- The Giants offensive line still needs work in order for Eli Manning to “be a quality quarterback,” like GM David Gettleman thinks he can be. McCoy barely edges Garrett Bradbury as my top center, but both of them have good footwork and athleticism. They both possess the power to finish defenders and the ability to square the shoulder pads at the second level. McCoy is just a little better at it than Bradbury, which is why he’s the selection here.
TRADES IN ROUND ONE
1- Washington Redskins trade the #15, #46 and a 2020 2nd Round Pick to the Miami Dolphins for the #9 and a 2020 4th Round Pick.
2- New England Patriots trade the #32, #56, and #97 to the New York Giants for the #17 and the #143.
3- Denver Broncos trade the #41, #71 and #125 to the Los Angeles Rams for the #31 and #94,
ROUND TWO
33) *Detroit Lions via Arizona Cardinals: Clelin Ferrell, EDGE Clemson- Detroit needs a quality edge rusher opposite their newest free agent acquisition Trey Flowers. With Clelin Ferrell falling down the draft board due to poor agility drills at the combine, the Lions come up to grab a player who’s tape still screams successful NFL starter as an edge player.
34) Indianapolis Colts via New York Jets: Khalen Saunders, DL Western Illinois- Saunders is an impressive athlete for his size. His quickness as well as his ability to stack and shed make him a really intriguing day two prospect.
35) *Pittsburgh Steelers via Oakland Raiders: Mack Wilson, ILB Alabama- Wilson didn’t have the best pro day, but he’s still one of the better off ball linebackers in a very weak draft class. The Steelers need a three down middle linebacker desperately, so they come flying up the draft board for the only one left.
36) San Francisco 49ers: Kelvin Harmon, WR NC State- I’m still rolling with Harmon as one of the better receivers in this draft despite a less than impressive Combine performance. His tape is really strong. Harmon creates separation at the line of scrimmage as well as anyone in the draft, and he wins one-on-ones with his size and ability to high point the football. I think Harmon would be an excellent compliment to Marquise Goodwin and Dante Pettis.
37) New York Giants: Hakeem Butler, WR Iowa State- Sticking with the “the Giants should wait for a Quarterback until next year,” theme, New York needs to revamp their receiving core before their quarterback of the future steps onto the field. Butler is a ridiculous athlete with the ability to make some absurd catches. If he fixes the drops that plagued him at Iowa State, he could be a superstar in the NFL.
38) Jacksonville Jaguars: Yodny Cajuste, OT West Virginia- I think Cajuste could become a quality starter at either left or right tackle in the NFL. He wins with inside hands in pass protection and has the ability to counterpunch with strength.
39) *Houston Texans via Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Garrett Bradbury, OG/C NC State- Bradbury’s game is very similar to Erik McCoy’s. Both players finish opponents in the run game, and both players possess quality athleticism for the center position. In an effort to continue to revamp one of the worst offensive lines in football, Houston trades up to land a high quality starter along the interior in Bradbury.
Editor’s Note: Here’s the Tampa Bay trade down I alluded to them making back at the fifth selection. The Bucs are pretty much guaranteed to trade down at some point in the first two rounds of this draft because they need extra assets.
40) Buffalo Bills: Dalton Risner, OG/OT Kansas State- Risner is a mauler in the run game. He drives opposing players backwards with a strong lower base, and gets his hands on opponents quickly in both the run and pass game. Risner should make a good right guard at the next level.
41) Los Angeles Rams via Denver Broncos: Jachai Polite, EDGE Florida- Polite had a tough Combine week. He had a tough interview process, he showed a slower than normal 10 yard split for someone of his size, and then he got hurt and had to miss the rest of the workout.
Fortunately, his tape is still very strong, and the Rams were supposedly his best interview. He now has some questions to answer, but Polite’s ability to bend around the edge and get to the passer should keep him as a second round selection.
42) Cincinnati Bengals: Daniel Jones, QB Duke- This is a definitive overdraft, but Jones is one of three quarterbacks on my board with a day one or two grade. He has solid arm strength and decent anticipation, but he has to sit at least a year in order to succeed.
43) *Arizona Cardinals via Detroit Lions: Deebo Samuel, WR South Carolina- Samuel was one of my biggest surprises this year when I dove into his tape. I expected to see flashes of greatness, but inconsistency. Instead I saw one of the more complete receivers in the draft. With precise route running, solid hands and the ability to win one-on-ones from multiple spots across the line of scrimmage, Samuel is a really quality option for any team looking for a day two pass catcher this year.
44) Green Bay Packers: Parris Campbell, WR Ohio State- Here’s an interesting fit that I’m a big fan of. Campbell is a weapon, put the ball in his hands and he creates plays. What surprised me when breaking him down was his route running. I don’t think Campbell is just a gimmick receiver, even though lots of his touches resembled that at Ohio State. Giving Aaron Rodgers a weapon like Campbell would be very interesting.
45) Atlanta Falcons: Tytus Howard, OT Alabama State- Howard needs to continue to polish his technique in all three sets, but he has the ideal size and frame for a right tackle at the next level. He shows a level of intelligence for the position that you can’t teach, which is very impressive considering he’s still relatively new to the offensive line (he was a quarterback in high school). This is a good target for the Falcons on day two should they go defensive line in round one.
46) *Buffalo Bills via Washington Redskins: Amani Oruwariye, CB Penn State- Even though the Bills signed Kevin Johnson and EJ Gaines in free agency, they only signed both players to one year deals. They still need a number two corner of the future. Oruwariye has good ball skills, he mirrors receivers well, and his hips flip effortlessly for a bigger corner. His backpedal and press coverage need to improve, but every corner in this class comes with baggage in some way.
47) Carolina Panthers: Deionte Thompson, FS Alabama- The safety class fell hard in this mock draft, but that could be representative of what happens on draft day. Thompson is still my top safety in this draft class because of his ball skills in the back as well as his willingness to come up and tackle from the single high position.
48) Miami Dolphins: Charles Omenihu, DL Texas- “Just Draft Talent.” That is the slogan for the Dolphins in this draft. It doesn’t matter what position, just take the best player on the board.
49) Cleveland Browns: Justin Layne, CB Michigan State- Somehow, the Browns snag a quality number two corner, a major need for them, despite having traded their first round pick to the Giants in the Odell Beckham trade. Layne is a big time athlete for a bigger corner, and his ability in man coverage ranks among the top in this draft class.
50) Minnesota Vikings: Jerry Tillery, DT Notre Dame- One of the more under the radar losses this offseason was the Vikings losing Sheldon Richardson. They need to replace him with an athletic three technique that excels at rushing the passer in order to keep their front four as dominant as it was last year. Enter Jerry Tillery.
51) Tennessee Titans: Renell Wren, DT/NT Arizona State- The Titans need depth along their defensive front in this draft. Wren has impressive athleticism for someone of his size, a good motor, and the ability to stack and shed.
52) *Oakland Raiders via Pittsburgh Steelers: Damien Harris, RB Alabama- The two Alabama running backs are the only two RBs worth selecting in the top 64 this year. Both Harris and Jacobs are three down backs at the next level. They excel at running between the tackles, they can pass protect, and they can catch the ball out of the backfield. After trading backwards, Oakland grabs Harris to compete for their starting running back job.
53) Philadelphia Eagles via Baltimore Ravens: David Edwards, OT Wisconsin- I’ve mentioned how I am much higher on Edwards than most because of the intelligence he shows for someone that is still new to the offensive line position. The Eagles are a perfect team to snag him on day two and let him develop his technique for a year before replacing Jason Peters.
Editor’s Note: Hal Vaitai has been too inconsistent for me to trust him long term at the position. That’s why the pick here is Edwards.
54) *Tampa Bay Buccaneers from Houston Texans via Seattle Seahawks: Nasir Adderley, FS Delaware- Another second round steal here. With safeties falling down the board, Tampa Bay grabs a single high ball hawk for Todd Bowles’ defense.
55) Houston Texans: Jace Sternberger, TE Texas A&M- I think Deshaun Watson could benefit from a move tight end in the middle of the field. Sternberger has good hands and a solid catch radius, but his fluidity in his route combinations that have me excited about what he could be at the next level.
56) *New York Giants from New England Patriots via Chicago Bears: Joejuan Williams, CB Vanderbilt- Joejuan Williams struggled during the combine, but his 40 time was much better at his pro day. Normally I would still be inclined to not evaluate that as highly, but Williams was laser timed at Vandy. He reaffirmed what I thought I saw on tape; the makeup speed would translate for a guy who excels as a press corner. I still like Williams as a CB2 in the NFL.
57) *San Francisco 49ers via Philadelphia Eagles: Amani Hooker, FS Iowa- Hooker, in my opinion, is a better version of Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. I think he has better man skills in the slot, I like his ability to play the run better, and he reads and reacts just as well from the single high spot. San Francisco needs game changers in the secondary, or at the very least, players who can do multiple things. They trade up for Hooker.
58) Dallas Cowboys: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, CB/FS Florida- Dallas needs a ball hawk at free safety, but they also need a guy who can play nickel as well. If that doesn’t describe CGJ in a nutshell, I don’t know what does.
59) Indianapolis Colts: Johnathan Abram, SS Mississippi State- Abram is a quality in the box safety. He shoots gaps around the line of scrimmage and boy is he a thumper. I don’t think he’s a liability in cover two either, although it’s definitely the portion of his game that needs work. Overall, Abram can be a chess piece if he becomes a better player in coverage.
60) Los Angeles Chargers: David Long, CB Michigan- The Chargers lost some depth in the back end of their defense from last year to this year. Because it’s such an integral part of their defense, they should look to replenish the cornerback position early in this draft.
61) Kansas City Chiefs: Trayvon Mullen, CB Clemson- Mullen didn’t do a lot during the Combine to solidify his draft position. If anything, he confirmed the up and down play I saw on tape. Mullen can man up well at the line of scrimmage and his ball skills are impressive. Having said that, he has to become more consistent in order for him to succeed in the NFL.
62) New Orleans Saints: Jordan Brown, CB South Dakota State- A run on defensive backs like this is the exact kind of panic that could happen in this draft. It may not be to this extent, but the lack of cornerback and safety depth will get teams to jump at the chance to select players they are high on. New Orleans needs a number two corner, so they round out the run on secondary players with Jordan Brown.
63) Kansas City Chiefs via Los Angeles Rams: Elgton Jenkins, OG/C Mississippi State- The Chiefs desperately need to replace Mitch Morse early in this draft. Having a quality center to help direct traffic up front is very key for a young QB to continue to develop. Jenkins moves well in the short areas of the field, which should mesh nicely with the Eagles scheme up front.
64) New England Patriots: Andy Isabella, WR Massachusetts- Offensive weapons is the biggest need for the Patriots this offseason. After trading up for Noah Fant in round one, the Patriots select Isabella in round two.
Editor’s Note: Isabella is more than just a shifty receiver out of the slot. He reminds me a lot of Julian Edelman. He is able to win route combinations on the boundary with his quickness in and out of cuts. Isabella was also a former track star in high school, so he has the ability to stretch the defense. If the Patriots grab him at some point in this draft, look for him in your fantasy football drafts come September.
TRADES IN ROUND TWO
1- Detroit Lions trade the #43 and #89 to the Arizona Cardinals for the #33 and a 2020 5th Round Pick.
2- Pittsburgh Steelers trade the #52, #84 and #122 to the Oakland Raiders for #35, #218 and a 2020 6th Round Pick.
3- Houston Texans trade the #54, #86 and #195 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the #39.
4- San Francisco 49ers trade the #67 and #104 to the Philadelphia Eagles for the #57 and #208.
ROUND THREE
65) Arizona Cardinals: DeAndre Baker, CB Georgia
66) Oakland Raiders: Dawson Knox, TE Ole Miss
67) *Philadelphia Eagles via San Francisco 49ers: Blake Cashman, ILB Minnesota
68) New York Jets: Dennis Daley, OT South Carolina
69) Jacksonville Jaguars: Darnell Savage, FS Maryland
70) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Christian Miller, EDGE Alabama
71) New York Giants- Forfeit Due to the Selection of Sam Beal in the Supplemental Draft
72) *Los Angeles Rams via Denver Broncos: Kendall Sheffield, CB Ohio State
73) Cincinnati Bengals: Dru Samia, OG Oklahoma
74) New England Patriots via Detroit Lions: Trysten Hill, DT UCF
75) Buffalo Bills: Chase Winovich, EDGE Michigan
76) Green Bay Packers: Oshane Ximines, EDGE Old Dominion
77) Washington Redskins: Emanuel Hall, WR Missouri
78) Carolina Panthers: Kahale Warring, TE San Diego State
79) Miami Dolphins: Sean Bunting, CB Central Michigan
80) Atlanta Falcons: Maxx Crosby, EDGE Eastern Michigan
81) Cleveland Browns: Nate Davis, OG Charlotte
82) Minnesota Vikings: Bobby Evans, OT/OG Oklahoma
83) Tennessee Titans: Riley Ridley, WR Georgia
84) *Oakland Raiders via Pittsburgh Steelers: Isaiah Johnson, CB Houston
85) Seattle Seahawks: Juan Thornhill, SS Virginia
86) Baltimore Ravens: Damarkus Lodge, WR Ole Miss (double wide outs because they need it)
87) *Tampa Bay Buccaneers via Houston Texans: Ryan Bates, OL Penn State
88) Chicago Bears: Zach Allen, DL Boston College
89) *Arizona Cardinals from Detroit Lions via Philadelphia Eagles: Kaleb McGary, OT Washington
90) Indianapolis Colts: Vosean Joseph, ILB Florida
91) *New York Jets via Dallas Cowboys: JJ Arcega-Whiteside, WR Stanford
92) Los Angeles Chargers: Max Scharping, OT Northern Illinois
93) Kansas City Chiefs: Rodney Anderson, RB Oklahoma
94) New York Jets via New Orleans Saints: Jamel Dean, CB Auburn
95) Los Angeles Rams: Germaine Pratt, ILB NC State
96) Miami Dolphins from Cleveland Browns via New England Patriots: Mecole Hardman, WR Georgia
97) Washington Redskins: Ross Pierschbacher, OG/C Alabama
98) New England Patriots: Tyree Jackson, QB Buffalo
99) Jacksonville Jaguars via Los Angeles Rams: Sutton Smith, OLB Northern Illinois
100) Los Angeles Rams: Sheldrick Redwine, FS/SS Miami
101) Carolina Panthers: David Montgomery, RB Iowa State
102) New England Patriots: Ben Banogu, EDGE TCU
103) Baltimore Ravens: Drue Tranquill, ILB Notre Dame
TRADES IN ROUND THREE
1- New York Jets trade the #105 and a 2020 4th Round Pick to the Dallas Cowboys for the #90.
Jordan Katz 2019 Prediction Mock Draft 2.0: Post Combine
Y’all know what time it is, lean wit it, mock wit it! Mock Lyfe never, eeeevvvveeeerrr, sleeps, and with the Combine wrapped up, it’s time for a prediction mock draft. This is a more traditional one; the goal here is to try to get every pick right. I base this off of what I see being reported as well as team visits with prospects. Team needs also play a factor. Obviously this is a challenge with Free Agency right around the corner and pro days still to come. However, this is the way I think teams would be leaning if the draft were to take place tomorrow. As always, trades are included, and they are denoted by an asterisk next to the team’s name. We also have a few player trades in this mock draft that shake up the draft board. Who are the players that move, you ask? Let’s find out (Big J level tease right there).
ROUND ONE
1) Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray, QB Oklahoma- Personally, there’s no way I would get rid of Josh Rosen for Kyler Murray. Rosen is by far the better QB right now, and I think he has a higher ceiling than Murray as well.
Having said that, Kliff Kingsbury and the Cardinals brass really didn’t do a good job of convincing anyone that they are confident in Josh Rosen. This means one of two things; either the Cardinals will attempt to trade the pick by creating buzz around Murray, or they truly are enamored with the former Heisman trophy winner and want him to be the face of the franchise. I’ll bite on the hype train for now.
2) San Francisco 49ers: Nick Bosa, EDGE Ohio State- The 49ers would freak out if Bosa became available for them at two. That possibility becomes more and more of a reality the more the Cardinals refuse to deny the rumors surrounding Kyler Murray.
3) *New York Giants via New York Jets: Dwayne Haskins, QB Ohio State- This is where the draft gets funky. It’s no secret that the Jets are the most likely team to trade out on draft day. They need assets in this draft to help build a competitive roster in 2019 At least one of the two QBs is more than likely going to be available at the third selection, so the Jets trading out is a strong possibility.
Where this gets interesting is the idea of the Jets and Giants doing a trade together. While one can argue it’s unlikely, it also makes the most sense. The Giants backed themselves into a corner by not coming out of last year’s draft with a quarterback, making them very likely to establish their draft strategy around Dwayne Haskins. They also have a unique opportunity to sit Haskins for a year or two without the fan base becoming restless. Nowadays rookie QBs are forced to play as soon as possible because teams stand such a better chance of building a championship contending roster while their franchise QB is on a rookie deal. The fans also contribute by putting pressure on the franchise to trot out their potential star player as soon as possible.
The Giants won’t have this issue. They still have a quarterback beloved by the fan base, which gives them the luxury of not throwing Haskins to the wolves on day one.
If the Jets and Giants can ignore the outside noise, they could be perfect trade partners in this year’s draft. The Jets get extra assets, the Giants get the heir to Eli Manning’s throne.
4) Oakland Raiders: Quinnen Williams, DT Alabama- The Raiders need to hit on each one of their first round selections to expedite their rebuilding process. Williams is the best prospect on the board, and he will give Oakland a dominant pass rusher along the interior.
5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Montez Sweat, EDGE Mississippi State- The biggest winner of the combine on the defensive side of the ball was Sweat. He answered every question that scouts had of his ability to dip and bend around the edge… except ya boy who had him as a top ten player on his board (humble brag, not all heroes wear capes). If Tampa Bay cannot trade down here, I would expect them to take the best edge rusher on their board.
6) *New York Jets via New York Giants: Rashan Gary, DL Michigan- The Jets need versatility along their defensive front. Gary can come off the edge as well as rush from the interior. I think his athleticism combined with his potential make him a perfect target for the Jets if they can trade down and stay in the top ten.
7) Jacksonville Jaguars: DK Metcalf, WR Ole Miss- The Jaguars will open up the offense a bit more with Nick Foles under center. In order to do that successfully, they need a true number one receiver. Metcalf generated the most buzz during the combine and established himself as the clear number one receiver in this draft. He would give the Jaguars a legitimately playmaker on the outside.
8) Detroit Lions: Brian Burns, EDGE Florida State- Burns tore it up in Indianapolis and established himself as a top 15 lock. He bulked up to 250 pounds and still showed elite athleticism, which allows him to play either 4-3 defensive end or 3-4 outside linebacker at the next level. The versatility he provides is what will land him in the Top 10.
9) Buffalo Bills: Jawaan Taylor, OT Florida- Taylor appears to be the top offensive tackle in this draft according to most. If the Bills miss out on DK Metcalf, I’d expect Taylor to be the selection, should he be available.
10) Denver Broncos: Devin White, ILB LSU- I know everyone’s mocking the Broncos to take Drew Lock because John Elway appears attracted to the idea of having Joe Flacco be a bridge quarterback. Here’s my counterargument; what if he just picks that guy next year instead of this year? Elway would have the option of taking Justin Herbert or Jake Fromm, two people that scouts think could play from day one (I disagree on Fromm, but that’s a different story for a different day).
Instead of Lock, the Broncos continue to revamp their front seven and take one of the only three down linebackers in the draft.
11) Cincinnati Bengals: Andre Dillard, OT Washington State- It feels like the Bengals have needed offensive line every year for the last five drafts. Dillard is deemed to be the top pass protector this year, and he one of the few true left tackles in the entire draft. The Bengals hopefully find their left tackle of the present and future with this pick.
12) Green Bay Packers: Josh Allen, EDGE Kentucky- There were a few edge rushers that outperformed Allen during the workouts in Indianapolis, which could lead to Allen sliding a bit on draft day. It’s not a knock on Allen as a player, it’s just the realization that players like Sweat and Burns may have more upside.
Assuming he does slide, the Packers are his floor. They need an impact player that can get to the passer on a routine basis. Allen would give them a legitimate rusher off the edge.
13) Miami Dolphins: Daniel Jones, QB Duke- Jones and Drew Lock are a complete toss up for who’s the third quarterback off the board this year. To me, Jones will edge out Lock because Duke’s Head Coach David Cutcliffe is revered in NFL circles for his work with Peyton and Eli Manning. Every advantage helps your draft stock and this is a big one.
14) Atlanta Falcons: Ed Oliver, DT Houston- Atlanta needs to dedicate the early portions of this draft towards strengthening their roster in the trenches. Oliver up front along with Grady Jarrett, Vic Beasley and Takk McKinley would make for an incredibly dominant front four.
15) Washington Redskins: TJ Hockenson, TE Iowa- Should the Cardinals select Kyler Murray first overall, I expect the Redskins to be the heavy favorite to land Josh Rosen via trade (which they do later on in this draft). Therefore, at 15 they look to address their next biggest need; offensive weapons. Even though Noah Fant wowed at the combine, TJ Hockenson proved he was very athletic as well. His blocking skills keep him as the first tight end off the board.
16) Carolina Panthers: Jonah Williams, OL Alabama- Williams is still easily my top offensive tackle, but teams view him as a potential all-pro if he moves to guard. Carolina needs both a starting tackle and a starting guard, so he’s an easy fit here.
17) Cleveland Browns: Christian Wilkins, DT Clemson- The Browns feel like a lock to address interior defensive line with their first round selection. The question will be whether they still take Jeffery Simmons despite the ACL tear, or if they go with someone who will be healthy week one like Christian Wilkins.
18) *New England Patriots via Minnesota Vikings: Noah Fant, TE Iowa- Bill Belichick has been known for surprising the experts on draft day. With extra assets in a weaker draft class, there’s a chance Belichick opts to come up for one of the two Iowa tight ends if they fall farther than people expect. That’s exactly what happens here.
19) *Philadelphia Eagles via Tennessee Titans: Josh Jacobs, RB Alabama- Josh Jacobs may not have worked out during the Combine, but his stock still managed to rise. The rest of the running backs were so average that Jacobs solidified himself as the top running back by a wide margin. The Eagles jump past a few teams to get the running back they covet.
20) Pittsburgh Steelers: Devin Bush, ILB Michigan- If Devin Bush makes it to the Steelers pick at 20, I don’t expect much hesitation here. Bush is a three down linebacker with elite athleticism. He’s also a quality leader according to most things you read.
21) Seattle Seahawks: Greedy Williams, CB LSU- Williams definitely took himself out of the Top 10 conversation with his performance during the on the field drill portion of the combine. Having said that, he most likely remained the top corner because of his elite 40 time. Williams has technical issues, but his length and ball skills combined with his athleticism would make him a phenomenal fit in the Seahawks defense.
22) Baltimore Ravens: Marquise “Hollywood,” Brown, WR Oklahoma- Brown’s foot surgery shouldn’t affect his draft stock too bad because he will still be ready to go for the summer workouts. The Ravens need to give Lamar Jackson some weapons for him to succeed in 2019, and there aren’t many better weapons in this draft than Hollywood Brown.
23) Houston Texans: Cody Ford, OT/OG Oklahoma- I think you all know the drill by now; the Texans need to take offensive line early and often in this draft. Ford should still go in round one despite his athletic testing solidifying him as a guard at the next level.
24) Oakland Raiders via Chicago Bears: Byron Murphy, CB Washington- Murphy’s man cover skills and terrific footwork will make him an attractive option to a lot of teams selecting in the back end of round one. He can line up on the outside and force receivers to the boundary, or he can take away slot receivers with his ability to mirror route combinations.
25) *Tennessee Titans via Philadelphia Eagles: N’Keal Harry, WR Arizona State- The Titans manage to slide down a few spots and still land the pass catcher they covet. Harry is an ideal weapon for Marcus Mariota because of his size in the red zone and his ability to win from the slot position.
26) Indianapolis Colts: Jeffery Simmons, DT Mississippi State- Simmons has reportedly put to rest any issues teams may have had about his off the field antics, which should keep his draft stock in the first 40 picks despite the ACL injury. His pass rushing skills is what makes him a very attractive option to the Colts here at 26.
27) *Pittsburgh Steelers from Oakland Raiders via Dallas Cowboys: Rock Ya-Sin, CB Temple- My prediction for Antonio Brown is that the Raiders use one of their late first round selections to land the star wide receiver. This gives Pittsburgh two first round selections to address their lackluster back seven on defense.
28) Los Angeles Chargers: Dexter Lawrence, NT Clemson- I will continue to call this until I sense the Chargers going in a different direction. Lawrence makes too much sense in the middle of the Chargers defense. He also has the athleticism to play on passing downs.
29) Kansas City Chiefs: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, FS Florida- The Chiefs are yet another team in the backend of round one that needs secondary help. CGJ is deemed to be the top safety in this draft and the best ballhawk from the single high position. He would pair up nicely with Eric Berry.
30) Green Bay Packers via New Orleans Saints: Irv Smith Jr., TE Alabama- Jimmy Graham’s performance last season was up and down, and he’s a quality option to be a cap cut in either of the next two offseasons. Smith is a really solid blocker, he’s an athlete, and he’s developed into a very good route runner for the position. I think Smith and Aaron Rodgers would make a dynamic duo.
31) *Cincinnati Bengals via Los Angeles Rams: Drew Lock, QB Missouri- I like the idea of the fourth QB in this draft, be that Lock or Daniel Jones, coming off the board in the back end of round one like Lamar Jackson did last year. A likely team to make that move this year is the Bengals. They need the heir to Andy Dalton’s… uhh…. “Throne.” Instead of reaching for a guy at 11, they draft a need position in that spot and then come up into round one to get the fifth year option on their QB of the future.
32) *Minnesota Vikings via New England Patriots: Chris Lindstrom, OG Boston College- The fact that Lindstrom is not going to go in the first 20 picks is a crime. He’s an elite level prospect as a guard. Minnesota trades down and lands one of the best players in the draft.
TRADES IN ROUND ONE
1- New York Giants trade the #6, #37, #108 and a 2020 2nd round pick to the New York Jets for the #3.
2- New England Patriots trade the #32, #56 and #101 to the Minnesota Vikings for the #18, #209 and #247.
3- Philadelphia Eagles trade the #25, #57 and #163 to the Tennessee Titans for the #19 and the #82.
4- Pittsburgh Steelers trade Antonio Brown and a 2020 5th round pick to the Oakland Raiders for the #27.
5- Cincinnati Bengals trade the #42, #72 and a 2020 3rd round pick to the Los Angeles Rams for the #31 and the #133 and a 2020 4th round pick.
ROUND TWO
33) Arizona Cardinals: Garrett Bradbury, C NC State- The Cardinals address their disastrous offensive line by selecting the top center in the draft.
34) Indianapolis Colts via New York Jets: Johnathan Abram, SS Mississippi State- Abram is a perfect scheme fit for the Colts because of Malik Hooker. Abram can be used as a chess piece close to the line of scrimmage with Hooker as the single high safety in the back.
35) Oakland Raiders: Clelin Ferrell, DE Clemson- More defense for the Raiders. Ferrell at the top of round two is a steal in my opinion, but it’s likely where he winds up come April.
36) San Francisco 49ers: Parris Campbell, WR Ohio State- Kyle Shanahan likes chess pieces that create matchup problems for the defense. Campbell’s speed makes him that kind of player.
37) *New York Jets via New York Giants: AJ Brown, WR Ole Miss- The one thing I think the Jets will miss in free agency is a pass catcher. Brown is a dynamic player in the short and intermediate passing game. He’d also be a terrific compliment to Robby Anderson.
38) Jacksonville Jaguars: Dalton Risner, OT/OG Kansas State- The Jaguars need some toughness and intensity up front. Nobody in this draft plays with more intensity than Dalton Risner.
39) *Houston Texans via Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DeAndre Baker, CB Georgia- Baker didn’t have the best weekend in Indianapolis. However, I think scouts like his tape too much for him to fall out of the Top 50. Houston uses assets to come up and get a number two corner.
40) Buffalo Bills: Hakeem Butler, WR Iowa State- Butler is a freakish athlete for someone who’s 6’5. He needs to become more consistent and eliminate drops, but a team is definitely going to gamble on him early in this draft.
41) Denver Broncos: Erik McCoy, C Texas A&M- McCoy can start right away and replace Matt Paradis in the middle of the Broncos offensive line.
42) *Los Angeles Rams via Cincinnati Bengals: Jachai Polite, EDGE Florida- The buzz around Polite was extremely negative coming out of the weekend in Indy, but I think his pass rushing ability will keep him in the first two rounds.
43) Detroit Lions: Nasir Adderley, FS Delaware- Adderley’s ball skills from the single high position will hopefully help the Lions secondary perform better in 2019.
44) Green Bay Packers: Mack Wilson, ILB Alabama- Even though the buzz on him has cooled, I think Wilson is still going to be a Top 50 pick in this draft. There’s a lot of teams that need linebacker help, and only a few that can truly play three downs.
45) Atlanta Falcons: Kaleb McGary, OT Washington- A lot of people like McGary’s potential in the NFL. His athleticism was on display during the athletic testing as well as the on-field drills. I expect him to go pretty high on day two.
46) *Arizona Cardinals via Washington Redskins: Khalen Saunders, DT/NT Western Illinois- Here is the Josh Rosen trade I alluded to earlier. The Redskins use multiple second rounders instead of one first round selection to trade for Rosen, making him their Quarterback of the present and future.
The Cardinals, on the other hand, land a 3-4 defensive lineman with the athleticism to line up all across the defensive front.
47) Carolina Panthers: Kelvin Harmon, WR NC State– The Panthers took DJ Moore in round one last year, but they still need more weapons heading into the 2019 offseason. Assuming Devin Funchess leaves in free agency, Harmon could be an interesting replacement option.
48) Miami Dolphins: David Long, CB Michigan- Long’s outstanding combine should solidify him as a day two selection in April. Miami has reportedly been shopping Xavien Howard, so it’s likely they look for a cornerback in the draft instead of re-signing Howard once the upcoming year ends.
49) Cleveland Browns: Justin Layne, CB Michigan State- Layne had a terrific showing at the combine, as many predicted he would. His ability to excel in multiple coverages makes him an attractive option to the Browns in round two.
50) Minnesota Vikings: Jerry Tillery, DT Notre Dame- One of the more underrated combine performances was posted by Jerry Tillery. He showed elite level quickness, which confirms what you see on tape. Minnesota needs a pass rusher next to Linval Joseph, making Tillery a perfect match here.
51) Tennessee Titans: Renell Wren, DL Arizona State- Wren would give the Titans some much needed versatility up front. He could play the nose tackle spot and allow Jurrell Casey to go back to 3-4 defensive end, or he can replace Bennie Logan at the aforementioned DE position.
52) Pittsburgh Steelers: Riley Ridley, WR Georgia- If the Steelers do trade Antonio Brown, they will need to find another threat on the outside. I don’t think they’ll jump at someone in the first round because of JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Washington, but Ridley in round two is a definite possibility.
53) Philadelphia Eagles via Baltimore Ravens: Amani Oruwariye, CB Penn State The Eagles two biggest needs this offseason are a three down running back and a number two cornerback. With the selection of Oruwariye, they’ve accomplished both in this mock draft.
54) *Tampa Bay Buccaneers from Houston Texans via Seattle Seahawks- Deionte Thompson, FS Alabama- Tampa Bay will trade down at some point in this draft because they have a lot needs to address this offseason. Thompson can help create turnovers and he gives Todd Bowles a single high safety for his aggressive minded defense.
55) Houston Texans: Tytus Howard, OT Alabama State- Eat, sleep, offensive line, repeat. Howard has good developmental skills and stands a chance to start at right tackle from day one.
56) *Minnesota Vikings from New England Patriots via Chicago Bears: Taylor Rapp, SS Washington- The Vikings have been rumored to be replacing Andrew Sendejo for a few offseasons now. With Sendejo entering the final year of his contract, this could finally be the draft they select his replacement.
57) *Tennessee Titans via Philadelphia Eagles: Dru Samia, OG Oklahoma- Samia’s intensity and toughness is a perfect match for the Titans physical offensive line. He would start at left guard from day one and contribute right away to the Titans run heavy offense.
58) Dallas Cowboys: Juan Thornhill, SS Virginia- Thornhill obliterated the athletic testing of the combine, posting absurd numbers in the vertical and broad jump. Then on top of that, he ran a 4.42 in the 40! Despite very inconsistent tape, he’s a lock for the top 75.
59) Indianapolis Colts: Emanuel Hall, WR Missouri- I think a more technical route runner would be a better scheme fit here because it would serve as a better compliment to T.Y. Hilton. That being said, Hall’s combine numbers should have him rising rapidly up teams draft boards.
60) Los Angeles Chargers: Trayvon Mullen, CB Clemson- Desmond King is most likely going to be the Chargers defensive chess piece, which means the Chargers need a CB on the boundary opposite Casey Hayward. Enter Trayvon Mullen.
61) Kansas City Chiefs: Damien Harris, RB Alabama- I think Harris earned the distinction of being RB2 at the Combine. He’s one of the few guys with three down potential that had a solid workout in Indianapolis.
62) New Orleans Saints: Jace Sternberger, TE Texas A&M- New Orleans is in a perfect position to replace Ben Watson with their first selection of the draft. Sternberger is a decent blocker for the position and has the ability to stretch the middle of the field as well.
63) Kansas City Chiefs via Los Angeles Rams: Christian Miller, EDGE Alabama- After cutting Justin Houston, the Chiefs will have to address the edge position early in this draft.
64) New England Patriots: Andy Isabella, WR UMASS- Isabella is a phenomenal route runner out of the slot with impressive athleticism to boot. He’s a perfect fit in the Patriots offense.
TRADES IN ROUND TWO
1- Houston Texans trade the #54, #86 and #161 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the #39 and the #215.
2- Washington Redskins trade the #46 and a 2020 2nd round pick to the Arizona Cardinals for Josh Rosen.
2019 NFL Combine Winners and Losers
With the NFL Draft prospects departing from Indianapolis, it’s time for a recap on how the two days went for both sides of the ball. Even though the NFL Combine is a point of contention among the draft community, the Combine serves a purpose. It is meant to seek out weaknesses in a player, both in terms of technique that you see on the field during the drills, as well as their fluidity as an athlete.
The question that trips up scouts and analysts is how much do you weigh what you see in Indianapolis against the tape? If an offensive lineman looks stiff in the hips during the drills, do you knock him down a peg even if his tape is good? Let’s say a wide receiver shows an elite 40 time, but struggles with the 3-Cone drill. Where does that put his athletic score? Does a defensive lineman that crushes the 3-Cone get a pass if he struggles in the 10 yard split because he has bad technique on his 40 yard dash?
Regardless of your views on the combine, down here there’s always winners and losers, and you don’t want to be caught on the wrong side of that line (to paraphrase Bruce Springsteen). So with that in mind, here’s who I feel were the winners and losers of the Combine this weekend.
Day One Winners (RBs and OL)
1- Chris Lindstrom, Garrett Bradbury and Erik McCoy: The top players along the interior really stepped up and made their presence felt this weekend. Garrett Bradbury and Chris Lindstrom were big breadwinners, dominating the athletic testing and showing elite level fluidity in their hips and ankles during the drill portion of the combine. I thought Erik McCoy stayed stride for stride with Bradbury throughout the day as well, and he remained my top center in this draft. All three of these guys should be quality starters at the next level.
2- Josh Jacobs: How do you win the combine without participating? When the rest of the position group performs incredibly average. Jacobs was easily most people’s RB1, but there was some buzz around the running backs you could get in rounds two and three, like Damien Harris, David Montgomery and others.
However, none of the potential three down backs tested well enough to challenge Jacobs for the top spot. This makes Josh Jacobs even more of a commodity come April, and a potential Top 20 lock.
3- Miles Sanders and Justice Hill: Keeping in mind the aforementioned analysis about the running backs, there were two players that did shine at the position. Sanders and Hill showed explosive athleticism, and both players on tape are shifty backs that show explosiveness in the open field. Sanders in particular is a favorite of mine. He’s a willing blocker and a terrific pass catcher out of the backfield. Teams should look at both of these guys as game changers out of the backfield in the pass game.
Day One Losers
1- Elijah Holyfield: Not many players had a worse combine than Elijah Holyfield. Holyfield tested extremely poorly during the athletic portion of the combine, with the pinnacle being a 4.79 and a 4.81 in the 40 yard dash. Even as a bigger back, you have to be able to show quality quickness and some breakaway ability. Holyfield showed none of that. His stock is definitely down.
2- Greg Little: This isn’t a shocker for me, but Little tested extremely poorly. His tape was constantly underwhelming because the supposed five star recruit and big time athlete never showed up. This weekend, Little confirmed that he is a right tackle at the next level, and he needs to be developed even further He was too stiff during the drills and too slow during the athletic tests.
3- Wisconsin Offensive Linemen: The buzz on the Wisconsin players was already low heading into this weekend. After the on field drills at the Combine, their collective stock might have dipped even further. David Edwards was a little high out of the stance when hitting the pads, and he was a little stiff in the hips during the other drills. The same goes for Michael Dieter. While I think Edwards still gets drafted between the third and the fourth round because of his intelligence at the position, this could be a rough go for a group that was deemed the best offensive line in college football just six months go.
Day Two Winners (QB, WR and TE)
1- Kyler Murray and Dwayne Haskins: The top QB’s had themselves a good weekend. First off, we have to start with the most anticipated measurement in the history of the combine. Kyler Murray came in at 5’10 and over 200 pounds, then decided to call it a Combine because he physically couldn’t help his draft stock any further. Now some will question his decision not to throw, and we’ll get to that later on in the article (Big J tease right there). The reason he didn’t is because he couldn’t further his draft stock by throwing. All the rumors were surrounding his measurements. People were questioning if Murray would come in over 5’9. Once he matched Russell Wilson, the only way his draft stock could fall is if he stunk it up during the drills throwing to receivers he didn’t know. So he took his paycheck and exited stage left.
On the other hand, Dwayne Haskins chose to let it rip, and boy did it work out. The ball popped effortlessly out of his hands. At least once a drill he showed some elite level anticipation, which was his big question mark for me. There were definitely still some questions on my end, a few throws were behind guys and a tad late. The other Quarterbacks were so average though, that Dwayne Haskins looked elite. He’s a top ten lock.
2- DK Metcalf and AJ Brown: The Ole Miss duo absolutely crushed the Combine. Metcalf’s freakish performance has been well documented, but that doesn’t mean it’s being over exaggerated. His athletic testing was otherworldly for his size. Don’t get trapped into his slow three cone either. This dude sinks his hips on tape and gets a clean release almost every time. Metcalf is an elite wide receiver at the next level if he stays healthy, and that was confirmed this weekend.
AJ Brown was someone who I thought would test much better than people realized. Not to brag, but he proved me right. Brown had a sub 4.5 40 and almost a 37 inch vertical. He could definitely wind up in the first round of my personal mock draft, and you should see him off the board in the first 50 picks come April.
3- N’Keal Harry and Hakeem Butler: Speaking of receivers, N’Keal Harry and Hakeem Butler put to rest any questions about their ability to win down the field. Harry was a quality prospect before this event, the one thing that he needed to answer to put himself into the round one conversation. He did that, so expect to see Harry off the board on day one.
Butler might have been the most impressive player in this position group not named DK Metcalf. At 6’5 he posted a 4.48 40 yard dash, a ridiculous number for someone of that size. I still have reservations about his tape; he often has drops and double catches. With that being said, I’d be shocked if Butler made it out of round two.
4- Noah Fant: TE1 is a legitimate conversation now. If you’ve read my mock drafts, you know I’ve had Fant higher than TJ Hockenson from day one because Fant does more in the passing game without losing a step as a blocker. Fant blew the combine away, testing through the roof and showing clean cuts in and out of route combinations on the field during the drills. TJ Hockenson had a great day in his own right, but a 4.51 40 yard dash and a 6.81 3 Cone drill have teams salivating at the idea of selecting Noah Fant.
5- Parris Campbell: Campbell was going to be extremely fast, so it’s not his athletic testing that wowed me. It’s how smooth he was during the drills. I didn’t love his route running on tape, and I thought he had some double catches as well. Campbell showed none of that this weekend. I will have to go back and rewatch Campbell’s tape because he showed none of the weaknesses I thought he would. Expect to see him go off the board early in a month or so.
Honorable Mentions: Tyree Jackson (ran a 4.6 at 6’7! He also flashed at times during the drills, showing that massive arm strength), Emanuel Hall and Andy Isabella (both receivers absolutely torched the athletic portion of the event), Josh Oliver and Kahale Warring (two small school TE’s that could be day three steals)
Day Two Losers:
1- Kyler Murray: Here is the wrap up to the Big J tease I alluded to earlier in the article. Murray obviously put on water weight to get up over 200 pounds, and this is why he chose not to participate in any drills or athletic testing. He wasn’t comfortable doing so at the weight he was at. For me, that would stem the conversation of if he is able to take NFL punishment. Murray will still be fine in terms of his draft value, but I can see teams not being thrilled about this decision.
2- Kelvin Harmon: Harmon really struggled in the athletic portion of the combine, which was a major concern for him. Obviously Harmon was not a blazer at NC State, but he showed quickness in and out of cuts on tape and the ability to high point the ball. He did not show the measurables to have those skills translate against more athletic NFL Defensive Backs. I’m still sticking with him as a high end round two pick, but he fell down my big board a bit.
3- Isaac Nauta and Kaden Smith: Here’s the deal; if you run a 4.9 as a skill position player, you’re out. It’s that simple. Both these guys tested dreadfully slow this weekend. They gone.
Day Three Winners (DL and LBs)
1- Brian Burns: Burns has been in my top five players the entire draft process, and he dominated this weekend. He moves so fluidly for someone that is nearly 6’5, and weighing in at 249 did not slow him down at all. This dude is a freight train coming off the edge.
2- Montez Sweat: Speaking of freight trains coming of the edge, Montez Sweat confirmed every reason why I had him in my top ten players. His technique was never a question, but he proved this weekend he was a better athlete than he was given credit for. He answered questions about his ankle flexibility with a good 3 Cone Drill, and you can’t ignore his 1.55 10 yard split. A great showing for Sweat in Indy.
3- “The Big Fellas,” Dexter Lawrence and Khalen Saunders: Both these guys were deemed to be phenomenal athletes for their size, and they proved it. These two beasts rolled into the combine over 320 pounds (D-Law was 340) and both came in with impressive 10 yard splits for their size. In my opinion, their tape matches their combine performances.
Lawrence is a behemoth in the run game and he can collapse the pocket to help his teammates get to the passer. Saunders was moved all over the lot at Western Illinois, he even stood up at times and rushed from the edge. He’s explosive for his size with a great first step.
These two will be quality starters in the NFL.
4- Anthony Nelson: Here’s another edge player that I expected to test better athletically, and he proved me right. Nelson showed good ankle flexibility with a terrific 3 Cone, and he was a fluid mover during the on field drills. I had him a little too low on my previous big board, partially because I was hedging my bets. That won’t happen next time.
5- Blake Cashman: Cashman won the “I need to go watch this player ASAP,” award this week. In a weak linebacker class, he made himself some money. To list off the athletic testing, 4.5 flat on the 40, a 37.5’’ vertical, 10’2 on the broad jump, sub 7 on the 3 Cone and a 4.12 short shuttle. Supposedly the production is there on tape, which would make him a very attractive option for teams that miss out on the big three off ball linebackers.
Day Three Losers:
1- Jachai Polite: Polite is a puzzler. His tape is really impressive, and everything you heard out of the Florida camp about him was positive. Having said that, he didn’t interview well at all, and he tested even worse, posting a 1.71 10 yard split at 258 pounds. He wasn’t particularly great at the start of the on-field drills either, and then inexplicably stopped the workout with a hamstring injury. Polite’s tape should still keep him in the first 75 picks, but the former Gator has definitely lost the first round hype. A big story on draft day will be how far Polite falls.
2- Clelin Ferrell: Ferrell showed very little dip and bend ability during the 3 Cone and Short Shuttle, and his drills weren’t much better. Now this isn’t a surprise to many, but as someone who thought he was a better athlete than his tape showed, he drops down my board a bit.
I do still think he will be a very productive pro. He’s great against the run and he collapses the pocket by long arming tackles.
However, Ferrell has to fall because his ceiling is just not as high as some of the other defensive linemen in this draft. That was confirmed this weekend.
3- LJ Collier: I was never on the LJ Collier bandwagon because I wasn’t high on his tape. For those that were, the athletic testing should have you extremely concerned. Collier never looked fluid and struggled all throughout the day. Maybe he can bulk up and kick inside, but I don’t think he has the technique to do so.
Honorable Category of Confusion: Ed Oliver- Okay, we all knew Ed Oliver put on some weight to measure in bigger, and that’s why he didn’t want to run. However, he could’ve ran and done all the drills at that weight and still tested in at least the 80th percentile across the board. He was made for weekends like this. Heck, he posted a workout video this summer where he was doing linebacker and defensive back drills! His stock could have received a freebie boost this weekend, but alas, he refused. I’ll never understand why.
Day Four Winners
1- The Safeties: The safety class was deemed to be ridiculously weak, and day four could’ve gone real bad for them with Deionte Thompson and Nasir Adderley sitting out. However, players like Jonathan Abram, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, and Amani Hooker stepped up and showed some surprising athleticism throughout their portion of the Combine. It’s still not a strong class, but this group did surprise a bit.
2- Byron Murphy, Justin Layne, David Long and Rock Ya-Sin: Here’s why this group is so big; these four were the only players among the cornerbacks to put up even an average performance during the drills on the field.
Murphy was the cleanest in and out of his backpedal, he flipped his hips fluidly and he never lost momentum coming out of his T-Step in the “W-Drill.” He confirmed CB1 for me despite an average 40 time.
Layne is a long, athletic corner that stepped up and showed precision in his backpedal down the hash marks. He also tested very well athletically.
Long was the biggest winner of the combine, catapulting his draft stock with a clean backpedal and natural footwork. His tape is a bit confusing, but some team will gamble on him in day two.
Ya-Sin ran a solid 40 on his second run, but he started slow during the drill process. However, there’s a reason they call it “Temple Tough.” The former Temple corner got better as the day went on and confirmed the first round player I saw on tape.
Day Four Losers
1- The Cornerbacks Not Named Above: This group is by far the biggest loser of the combine. The question about the corners was simple; would the athletic testing match the collegiate tape and production? The answer was a resounding no. Almost every guy struggled with their backpedal, many players flipped their hips before the coaches asked them to, and the technique was just stiff across the board. This will become a massive storyline during the NFL Draft because these cornerbacks furthered the polarizing analysis about him.
2- Trayvon Mullen and Greedy Williams: These two cornerbacks are worthy of their own category because of how rough their days were. Mullen never looked comfortable during the drills. He was often flat footed and stiff in the hips. His tape was inconsistent, and that was confirmed this weekend. It’ll be interesting to see where he winds up.
Greedy Williams is the biggest culprit of the polarizing analysis. He came out of the blocks and ran a 4.38, a terrific time. Then he got in the drills and couldn’t get it right. He stumbled out of his backpedal and he flipped his hips early on three separate occasions, once coming out of the backpedal in the first drill and twice during the backpedal and weave drill. Then he announced that he had cramped up, and his day was done. The guy who is by far the toughest evaluation for NFL teams became even more of a question mark this weekend.
Jordan Katz 2019 NFL Mock Draft 4.0: Pre-Combine
The NFL Combine gets underway today, which means it’s a great time for another installment of my Mock Drafts for 2019 (not exactly, but #MockLyfe never sleeps and neither does content). Obviously much will change once the Combine numbers come in, and I will not only churn out a prediction Mock Draft of what I think will happen on Draft Day, but also a follow up to this Mock Draft of what I would do if I had control of all 32 teams.
This Mock Draft goes three rounds deep with compensatory picks and, as always, includes trades. The rules for trades stay the same, it needs to make sense for both teams. All trades that were made by me in this mock are denoted by an asterisk next to the team.
ROUND ONE
1) Arizona Cardinals: Nick Bosa, EDGE Ohio State- As previously stated, this is not a prediction mock draft. This is what I would do if I was in charge of all 32 teams. So this will not be Kyler Murray, nor will this be a trade. This will be Nick Bosa, and that is that.
2) San Francisco 49ers: Quinnen Williams, DT Alabama- The Niners may not be the obvious choice for Quinnen Williams, but they make sense. Yes, Arik Armstead could kick inside and the Niners could grab an edge player. However, the opportunity to put Williams next to DeForest Buckner could create one of the most dominant interior pass rushing attacks in the NFL.
3) New York Jets: DK Metcalf, WR Ole Miss- Metcalf is about to tear it up in Indianapolis and make himself a top ten lock in this draft. Word on the street is that he will measure in at 6’4 and run a sub 4.5, which is insane. If the Jets opt to address their pass rushing needs in free agency, O-Line and pass catchers will be in play for them early in this draft.
4) Oakland Raiders: Ed Oliver, DT Houston- This is the first time Ed Oliver has found himself back in the top five picks in quite some time, and that’s 100% because Quinnen Williams went in the top three. The Raiders need talent at every selection, and Oliver is extremely talented. Not to mention, he’s pound for pound the best athlete in the draft.
5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jonah Williams, OT Alabama- Tampa Bay needs help at multiple positions along their offensive line. The best offensive lineman in the draft is an easy selection here.
6) New York Giants: Byron Murphy, CB Washington- Murphy is still CB1 on my board, and his man cover skills should be a perfect fit in James Bettcher’s aggressive defense.
7) *Green Bay Packers via Jacksonville Jaguars: Brian Burns, EDGE Florida State- The Packers have some ammo in this draft to trade up a few spots from either the 12 or the 30 and land a guy they covet. Burns is one of my top five players in the draft and would have been selected by Detroit at eight. Therefore, Green Bay uses some draft capital and comes up a few spots to land one of the elite edge rushers in this draft.
8) Detroit Lions: Clelin Ferrell, EDGE Clemson- Detroit just got jumped by Green Bay for Burns, so they turn to the next best edge rusher on the board. The Clelin Ferrell bandwagon is getting smaller, but his technique and move-set should keep him in the first 15-20 picks of the draft.
9) *Washington Redskins via Buffalo Bills: Kyler Murray, QB Oklahoma- It feels a little dirty for me to have a QB in a top 10 of a personal mock draft. However, because Washington, Cincinnati and Miami all make a ton of sense to try to land my QB1, the three engage in a bidding war to trade up for Murray.
Washington is desperate for a franchise QB, and they need a week one starter because Alex Smith’s career may be over. This seems like a perfect scenario to take Murray. If it works, they still have the roster to compete right away in 2019.Washington puts together the best offer and lands the former Oklahoma standout.
10) Denver Broncos: Devin White, ILB LSU- I think Vic Fangio would love to have White captain the middle of their 3-4 defense. He’s a strong tackler, he shoots gaps well, and he can play on all three downs because of his cover skills.
11) Cincinnati Bengals: Chris Lindstrom, OG Boston College- Lindstrom is one of the most complete offensive line prospects in this draft and easily worthy of a top 15 selection this year.
12) *Jacksonville Jaguars via Green Bay Packers: Jawaan Taylor, OT Florida- The Jaguars power blocking scheme is a perfect fit for Jawaan Taylor. He can start at right tackle from day one and make an immediate impact in the Jags run heavy offense.
13) Miami Dolphins: Montez Sweat, EDGE Mississippi State- With Murray off the board, Miami goes to their next biggest need; replacing Cameron Wake. Charles Harris is not coming along fast enough, so the Dolphins turn to Montez Sweat. Sweat is another technician up front, with the ability to long arm tackles and win at the line with multiple pass rushing moves.
14) Atlanta Falcons: Jeffery Simmons, DT Mississippi State- My guess is that Atlanta chooses to re-sign Vic Beasley this offseason instead of Grady Jarrett, which means they need to find Jarrett’s replacement in this draft. Simmons may not be the prototypical Dan Quinn pick, but he has an explosive first step and multiple moves to get to the passer.
Editor’s Note: The ACL injury doesn’t concern me if I’m a team picking in this area. Simmons is a player that will dominate on the field from day one, whenever day one winds up being.
15) *Buffalo Bills via Washington Redskins: Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, WR Oklahoma- Hollywood Brown won’t work out this weekend, but he’s still one of my top playmakers in this draft. He’s explosive with the ball in his hands and he’s more than just a deep threat. Buffalo needs to find playmakers this offseason for Josh Allen, so with DK Metcalf off the board to the Jets at three, the Bills trade down and still snag WR2.
16) Carolina Panthers: Rashan Gary, DE Michigan- I still would rather see Gary as a 3-tech in a 3-4 scheme, but the Panthers look for bigger players on the edge. Since the scheme fit makes sense, the Panthers scoop up a talented player who fell a bit.
17) Cleveland Browns: Christian Wilkins, DT Clemson- The Browns are in a perfect position to grab a difference maker along the defensive line. The tandem of Larry Ogunjobi and Trevon Coley played well enough last year, but they’re not game changers. Wilkins would give the Browns one of the best defensive fronts in the NFL.
18) Minnesota Vikings: Cody Ford, OG/OT Oklahoma- Because Ford, Andre Dillard and Yodny Cajuste are so close in my rankings, the Vikings go with the player better served for their scheme. Ford is easily the best in the run game of the three and the most versatile in terms of where he can play.
19) Tennessee Titans: Noah Fant, TE Iowa- I still have Fant ahead of TJ Hockenson, albeit not by much. Fant has a big time catch radius and he’s a very good blocker in his own right. Tennessee needs to find more playmakers for Marcus Mariota this offseason, and they also need to work on replacing Delanie Walker. As they say, two birds with one stone here.
20) Pittsburgh Steelers: Mack Wilson, ILB Alabama- The linebacking class is so much weaker than the cornerback class, which is why the Steelers go with Wilson in round one and wait for a cornerback in round two.
21) Seattle Seahawks: Greedy Williams, CB LSU- Seattle loves long, athletic corners with big time ball skills. Playing Williams opposite Shaq Griffin would be a dynamic duo and the start of LOB 2.0.
22) Baltimore Ravens: Kelvin Harmon, WR NC State- I know Ravens fans will want Josh Jacobs here, but I think Harmon is the better selection. Baltimore doesn’t need to draft a running back early because the threat of Lamar Jackson will alleviate pressure off of whomever the Ravens start at running back.
What the Ravens need is a playmaker along the outside that separates well at the top of the route and can win in the red zone. That is Kelvin Harmon.
23) Houston Texans: Andre Dillard, OT Washington State- For the 1,261st time this draft season, allow me to reiterate how the Texans need to select the best offensive lineman on the board with their first round pick.
24) Oakland Raiders via Chicago Bears: Josh Jacobs, RB Alabama- As I said in my previous mock draft, Jacobs isn’t Jon Gruden’s prototypical running back in terms of size. However, he is tough between the tackles and he’s the only true three down running back in the draft class.
25) Philadelphia Eagles: Rock Ya-Sin, CB Temple- The Eagles are going to lose Ronald Darby in free agency, making cornerback a need because Sidney Jones and Rasul Douglas both have injury histories. Rock Ya-Sin has big time ball skills and he’s extremely good at mirroring receivers in man coverage.
26) Indianapolis Colts: Josh Allen, EDGE Kentucky- As you know by now, I have Allen lower on my personal board than the media does. It’s not that I don’t like the prospect, I just don’t see Allen as a can’t miss edge player. Whil he’s excellent at bending around the edge and running the arch, I question his ankle flexibility. He doesn’t really have an elite move-set either.
Having said that, he’s still a terrific pass rusher and the Colts would love to have him at this selection.
27) Oakland Raiders via Dallas Cowboys: TJ Hockenson, TE Iowa- I have no idea how this happened, but here we are and here’s the easiest selection of all time. The Raiders need pass catchers and Hockenson is an elite level prospect.
28) Los Angeles Chargers: Dexter Lawrence, NT Clemson- This stays the same from my previous mock draft. Lawrence’s athleticism and ability to stop the run make him an easy pick for a team that’s desperate for a nose tackle in the middle of their 3-4 defense.
29) Kansas City Chiefs: Deionte Thompson, FS Alabama- The Chiefs need playmakers in the secondary, be that at cornerback or safety. As a single high free safety, Thompson in the back would allow Eric Berry to be used more as a chess piece and create big impact plays.
30) Green Bay Packers via New Orleans Saints: Dalton Risner, OG/OT Kansas State- The Packers offensive line not only needs depth, but they need better players in the run game up front. Risner’s nastiness and power combined with his ability to maintain inside hands out of the jump set should fit nicely for a team that will look to run the ball more in 2019.
31) Los Angeles Rams: Jachai Polite, EDGE Florida- Los Angeles has a fair amount of needs for a team that is coming off of a Super Bowl appearance, and one of them is replacing Dante Fowler off the edge. Polite isn’t the best against the run, but he’s lethal around the edge, running the arch with precision and showing terrific flexibility in the hips and the ankles.
32) *New York Giants via New England Patriots: Dwayne Haskins, QB Ohio State- I love this idea from my previous mock draft, so it stays in this one as well. The Giants can trade up for Haskins to ensure a fifth year option on him, they can sit him for a year or two to help him work out kinks in his mechanics, and he can take the reigns once Eli Manning calls it a career.
TRADES IN ROUND ONE
1) Green Bay Packers trade the #12, the #44 and a 2020 3rd Round Pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for the #7 and #98.
2) Washington Redskins trade the #15, #46 and a 2020 2nd Round Pick to the Buffalo Bills for the #9 and #113.
3) New York Giants trade #37 and a 2020 3rd Round Pick to the New England Patriots for the #32 and a 2020 5th Round Pick
ROUND TWO
33) Arizona Cardinals: Yodny Cajuste, OT West Virginia- Same idea as my previous mock draft, but Cajuste is higher on my personal board than David Edwards, so he becomes the pick.
34) Indianapolis Colts via New York Jets- AJ Brown, WR Ole Miss- For all the years the Colts drafted offense, you would think they would have a compliment to T.Y Hilton on the roster. Brown working the short and intermediate passing areas would be a nice balance to the deep ball ability of Hilton.
35) Oakland Raiders: Amani Oruwariye, CB Penn State- What a home run of a draft the Raiders have had so far. Oakland needs difference makers in the secondary, and Oruwariye has the ball skills and length to be that guy.
36) San Francisco 49ers: N’Keal Harry, WR Arizona State- If the 49ers miss on acquiring a wide receiver via a trade, Harry at the top of round two would be a terrific consolation prize.
37) New England Patriots via New York Giants: Devin Bush, ILB Michigan- Kyle Van Noy is entering the final year of his contract and Dont’a Hightower is a possible cap cut. New England trades down and selects an off ball linebacker to give them more flexibility at the position.
38) Jacksonville Jaguars: Irv Smith Jr., TE Alabama- Irv Smith would be a perfect third down and red zone target for whoever the QB is for the Jaguars on opening day.
39) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Joejuan Williams, CB Vanderbilt- New Defensive Coordinator Todd Bowles loves physical man-to-man cornerbacks, which is Joejuan Williams in a nutshell.
40) Buffalo Bills: David Edwards, OT Wisconsin- Edwards has the intelligence level to start at right tackle at the next level. If he improves his footwork, he may be able to slide to the left side in the future.
41) Denver Broncos: Erik McCoy, OC Texas A&M- McCoy has a powerful base and he’s very agile in space. With Matt Paradis most likely leaving in free agency, the Broncos find his replacement with the top center in the draft.
42) Cincinnati Bengals: Daniel Jones, QB Duke- This is a bit of a reach for me, but Jones is my last quarterback with a grade higher than the fourth round. Cincinnati takes Jones in hopes of having him be their QB of the future.
43) Detroit Lions: Trayvon Mullen, CB Clemson- Detroit grabs a man cover corner with good ball skills to compliment Darius Slay’s skill set.
44) *Jacksonville Jaguars via Green Bay Packers: Deebo Samuel, WR South Carolina- The Jaguars continue the makeover on offense in this draft by adding another pass catcher that can make a big impact on third downs.
45) *Dallas Cowboys via Atlanta Falcons: Anthony Nelson, EDGE Iowa- In a weird draft move, the Cowboys come up with limited picks in this draft because Anthony Nelson fell way too far. Nelson would be a cheaper alternative to paying Demarcus Lawrence, and he can provide big time production at the next level.
46) *Buffalo Bills via Washington Redskins: Justin Layne, CB Michigan State- Layne is going to have a big combine, showing he has the athleticism to match his size and length.
47) Carolina Panthers: Nasir Adderley, FS Delaware- The Panthers need a ball hawk in the back; it has been quite some time since they had a difference maker at the safety position.
48) Miami Dolphins: Greg Little, OT Ole Miss- Little should be a solid right tackle in a power blocking scheme at the next level. He needs to improve his footwork, but there’s traits to work with.
49) Cleveland Browns: Tytus Howard, OT Alabama State- This is a bit of a reach but I love Howard’s size and athleticism. I think he can start at right tackle early in his career and develop into one of the better starters in the NFL.
50) Minnesota Vikings: Charles Omenihu, DL Texas- If the Vikings are looking for an athletic, pass rushing interior defensive lineman to compliment Linval Joseph, there aren’t many better players they can grab in round two than Omenihu.
51) *New England Patriots via Tennessee Titans- Khalen Saunders, DT Western Illinois- The Patriots continue to shuffle up and down the draft board. Saunders has unique athleticism for someone of his size. Bill Belichick will love him in the middle of the defense.
52) Pittsburgh Steelers: DeAndre Baker, CB Georgia- The Steelers get a solid corner in off coverage who will help solidify their secondary.
53) Philadelphia Eagles via Baltimore Ravens: Damien Harris, RB Alabama- Philadelphia missed out on Josh Jacobs by one pick in round one. Luckily for them, they scoop up his teammate in round two.
54) Houston Texans via Seattle Seahawks: Garrett Bradbury, OG/C NC State– I think Bradbury has the athleticism to play guard or center at the next level, a trait that should be very attractive to a team desperate for Offensive Linemen.
55) *Arizona Cardinals via Houston Texans: Riley Ridley, WR Georgia- The Cardinals trade up to land a big receiver that separates nicely at the top of route combinations.
56) New England Patriots via Chicago Bears: Jace Sternberger, TE Texas A&M- This is a classic case of scheme rules all in a mock draft. Sternberger does some dynamic things in the pass game, and I expect him to show some elite athleticism this weekend.
57) Philadelphia Eagles: Damarkus Lodge, WR Ole Miss- Lodge has some drops, but he’s capable of making some ridiculous catches and explosive plays.
58) *Atlanta Falcons via Dallas Cowboys: Elgton Jenkins, OG/C Mississippi State– The Falcons need to improve in the trenches this offseason to get back to the playoffs in 2019.
59) Indianapolis Colts: Jonathan Abram, SS Mississippi State- Abram is a strong player close to the line of scrimmage. He’d be an excellent compliment to the single high skills of Malik Hooker.
60) Los Angeles Chargers: Jordan Brown, CB South Dakota State- The Chargers need a second corner to play opposite Casey Hayward.
61) Kansas City Chiefs: Rodney Anderson, RB Oklahoma- Anderson not being ready to workout in Indy is a concern, but he wouldn’t be the first player to come back from knee surgery and return to form.
62) New Orleans Saints: Isaac Nauta, TE Georgia- I still love the idea of Saints taking a tight end to replace Ben Watson with their first selection of the 2019 NFL Draft.
63) Kansas City Chiefs via Los Angeles Rams: Oshane Ximines, EDGE Old Dominion- If the Chiefs move on from Justin Houston, Ximines in round two would be a perfect scheme fit. He’s not the best athlete, but he wins with physicality and technique.
64) *Tennessee Titans via New England Patriots: JJ Arcega-Whiteside, WR Stanford- “JJAW” is a physical receiver, a willing blocker, and a red zone threat. If that doesn’t scream scheme fit for the Titans, I’m not sure what does.
TRADES IN ROUND TWO
1) Dallas Cowboys trade the #58, #90 and a 2020 5th Round Pick to the Atlanta Falcons for the #45 and #230.
2) New England Patriots trade the #64, #97 and #205 to the Tennessee Titans for the #51.
3) Arizona Cardinals trade the #65, #103 and #139 to the Houston Texans for the #55 and #161.
ROUND THREE
65) *Houston Texans via Arizona Cardinals: Amani Hooker, FS Iowa
66) Oakland Raiders: Jaylon Ferguson, EDGE Louisiana Tech
67) San Francisco 49ers: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, CB/FS Florida
68) New York Jets: Dennis Daley, OT South Carolina
69) Jacksonville Jaguars: Renell Wren, DT/NT Arizona State
70) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Germaine Pratt, ILB NC State
71) Denver Broncos: Drew Lock, QB Missouri
72) Cincinnati Bengals: Dawson Knox, TE Ole Miss
73) New England Patriots via Detroit Lions: Andy Isabella, WR UMASS
74) Buffalo Bills: Bobby Evans, OT/OG Oklahoma
75) Green Bay Packers: Vosean Joseph, ILB Florida
76) Washington Redskins: Christian Miller, EDGE/OLB Alabama
77) Carolina Panthers: Jerry Tillery, DT Notre Dame
78) Miami Dolphins: Hakeem Butler, WR Iowa State
79) Atlanta Falcons: Oli Udoh, OT Elon
80) Cleveland Browns: Kendall Sheffield, CB Ohio State
81) Minnesota Vikings: Dax Raymond, TE Utah State
82) Tennessee Titans: Gerald Willis, DL Miami
83) Pittsburgh Steelers: Jazz Ferguson, WR Northwestern State
84) Seattle Seahawks: Mike Bell, S Fresno State
85) Baltimore Ravens: LJ Collier, EDGE TCU
86) Houston Texans: David Long, CB Michigan
87) Chicago Bears: Mike Edwards, SS Kentucky
88) Detroit Lions via Philadelphia Eagles: Antoine Wesley, WR Texas Tech
89) Indianapolis Colts: Zach Allen, DL Boston College
90) *Atlanta Falcons via Dallas Cowboys: Elijah Holyfield, RB Georgia
91) Los Angeles Chargers: Te’Von Coney, LB Notre Dame
92) Kansas City Chiefs: David Long, CB Michigan
93) New York Jets via New Orleans Saints: Dre’Mont Jones, DL Ohio State
94) Los Angeles Rams: Nate Davis, OG Charlotte
95) Cleveland Browns via New England Patriots: Sutton Smith, EDGE/OLB Southern Illinois
96) Washington Redskins: Kaden Smith, TE Stanford
97) *Tennessee Titans via New England Patriots: Michael Dieter, OL Wisconsin
98) Jacksonville Jaguars via Los Angeles Rams: Taylor Rapp, SS Washington
99) Los Angeles Rams: Julian Love, CB Notre Dame
100) Carolina Panthers: Keelan Doss, WR UC Davis
101) New England Patriots: Ross Pierschbacher, OG/C Alabama
102) Baltimore Ravens: David Montgomery, RB Iowa State
2019 NFL Combine Preview: Defense
Three Things to Know
1- The Defensive Backs are the Most Important Position of the Weekend: In the preview of the Offensive side of the ball (https://draftstock.net/2019/02/27/nfl-combine-preview-offense/), I wrote about the Offensive Linemen and how you can learn the most about the players in that position group this weekend because of the on field drills. The same holds true for the defensive backs. Watching the players flip their hips out of their backpedal, change directions quickly, and drive off their back foot to break on the football can provide teams with the most amount of information on any position group this weekend. We say it all the time; the Combine is meant to affirm what you see on film. This position group can do that the most accurately during the weekend in Indianapolis.
2- Ed Oliver is #Back, but He’s Not the Only Guy Who Will Have a Big Weekend: The Draft Buzz has cooled significantly on Ed Oliver, but expect that to change this weekend. Oliver is going to dominate every facet of the athletic testing and on field workouts. If you don’t believe me, go watch his workouts on YouTube and just read what guys are saying about him. Mike Mayock, the new GM of the Oakland Raiders, casually mentioned that Oliver could run a “4.5 something,” like it was normal for 270 pound human beings not named Zion Williamson to move like that. Oliver is appointment television this weekend.
Having said that, Ed Oliver isn’t the only player who will be on display this weekend. Look for Brian Burns to wow scouts with elite athleticism for someone of his size, as well as Nick Bosa to surprise with his athleticism. I feel like we forgot how good Nick Bosa is because it’s been so long since he’s played, and we’ve almost assuredly forgotten the fact that he is the better athlete between the two Bosa’s. The top end of the Edge Rushers will wow this weekend, and Bosa along with Burns will headline that group.
3- Instead of Watching the Off Ball Linebackers, Give Yourself a Mental Break: Once you get past Devin White, Mack Wilson and Devin Bush, this linebacker class is extremely underwhelming. Even if certain players test well, and there’s a few that I’m assuming will, there are no other three down linebackers outside of those three. This position group is a classic case of not overreacting to the combine. If someone like Germaine Pratt or Vosean Joseph tests well, don’t ignore the lack of consistency on tape.
Having said that, this group easily has the most to prove on the defensive side of the ball, which leads us into our next topic…
Players With the Most to Prove
1- Off Ball Linebackers: It’s very common for position groups that lack depth to be overdrafted on draft day because they are at a premium. The group that will follow this rule the most closely come April will be the Linebackers. So if you’re a player in this position group and you establish yourself as the best of the second wave behind White, Wilson and Bush, you could find yourself in the first 75 picks with ease.
2- Clelin Ferrell, Montez Sweat and Anthony Nelson: These three are deemed “less fluid,” in their ability to dip and bend, but more technical than the other pure edge rushers. This makes the Combine a very important weekend for these three. They don’t need to have gaudy numbers like Burns, Josh Allen, and Jachai Polite, because that’s unrealistic. What they need to do is show good hip and ankle flexibility in the 4 Bag drill, as well as a precise area of impact when punching the bags. In short, the on field drills are very important for these three.
3- The Bigger Cornerbacks in the Draft Class: The NFL Combine is meant to expose weakness, but one of the things that it can also do is put skill sets on display. For the bigger, longer cornerbacks like Joejuan Williams, Amani Oruwariye, Justin Layne and others, this could be a week that catapults them up draft board. Teams love cornerbacks with elite size that can move and flip their hips. The combine puts defensive backs through the proverbial ringer with a very good set of drills that are comparable to a necessary NFL skillset. So if a bigger, longer cornerback can dominate this weekend, they can wind up being selected very high.
4- Chauncey Gardner-Johnson: The safety class isn’t particularly appetizing, but CGJ is deemed to be one of the best cover corners in the draft, and some have him as Safety #1 this year. Personally, I think the Combine will trap people into thinking he has elite upside as a rangy free safety because I think he’s going to crush it. He flips his hips naturally out of the backpedal and he does show some elite athleticism. So when he crushes the drills and the athletic testing this weekend, expect to see him very high on Mock Draft boards.
5- Jaylon Ferguson: Ferguson has phenomenal production at Louisiana Tech, but he is not a fluid athlete by any stretch of the imagination. However, you know who thinks Ferguson is an athlete? Mock Draft Analysts among the big networks. That makes me think that scouts and GM’s may feel the same way. So if Ferguson tests well, maybe he winds up in the Top 50.
If he doesn’t test well, his tape will get largely thrown out and he will fall quickly down draft boards.
Sleepers of the Combine
1- Khalen Saunders: This is the easiest analysis of the weekend. Khalen Saunders is an unreal athlete for his size (just under 6’1, 320 pounds). He stands up… let me repeat that for the folks in the back… HE STANDS UP at 320 pounds and can rush off the edge (you’ll see that quickness in the drills). He also uses push-pull and elite strength to bully players along the interior (you’ll see that lower body strength in the broad jump and vertical jump). This dude is going to wow in Indianapolis.
2- Justin Layne: There’s a ton of buzz around Layne prior to the Combine. He has elite size and shows some NFL level traits on tape. If he runs well at the Combine, you will see Layne as an early Day Two selection come April.
3- Kendall Sheffield: Every year there’s always a “Combine Hero.” This is someone who gets drafted higher than expected because they show ridiculous athleticism in March. This year, expect that guy to be Kendall Sheffield. By all accounts, many expect him to be the fastest player at this year’s combine, and he should perform well in the other athletic tests also. The former Ohio State cornerback will be the big winner of the weekend.
2019 NFL Combine Preview: Offense
Three Things to Know
1- The Running Back Class May be Sub-par, but the Combine is a Very Important Day: Let’s get things started with the most obvious statement this year; athletic testing will be huge for this class. I can’t recall a year where the athletic test portion of the combine was more important. This class as a whole lacks depth, and the running back position is no different.
The athletic testing is going to be huge for the running backs. Outside of Josh Jacobs, there isn’t anyone with elite home run speed, or so we think. If a running back can test well athletically, they can establish themselves as RB2 and a top 50 pick. So when watching the Combine this weekend, look for the 40 yard dash, the short shuttle and the 3-Cone Drill. The guys that show athleticism this weekend to match or exceed their tape will be the ones picked in the first few rounds.
2- Do NOT Get Trapped by Day Two of the Combine: Day two is the Quarterbacks and Pass Catchers, which typically has a lot of eyes and can generate a lot of buzz. For the life of me, I still can’t figure out why. The Quarterbacks don’t have any report with the receivers, so timing is a complete guessing game. The receivers run basic route combinations and the most ridiculous drill of the weekend; the gauntlet. The gauntlet may be the dumbest thing throughout this weekend, and that includes the Combine committee’s ridiculous stance on who deserves an invite and who doesn’t.
Now there are some things that can provide some value. If a QB noticeably struggles with the three, five and seven step drops, that is a very bad sign. If a QB is noticeably off on their timing out of the receiver’s break, even without knowing tendencies, that is still not good.
However, for the most part, this day is useless after the receivers and tight ends do their athletic testing. Stick with your opinions based on what you see on tape and in game action, don’t get trapped into gym shorts scouting.
3- You Can Learn the Most about Offensive Linemen This Weekend: NFL Draft analysts love the offensive linemen portion of the combine because you see who has the necessary NFL length, and you see who is willing to go the extra mile by working hard to improve workout numbers that largely don’t matter. Sure the ten yard split can be an indicator towards quickness and athletic ability, and you don’t want to see low bench press numbers, but for players being selected with a day one or day two selection, you rarely see blemishes in these areas.
I like the Offensive Line portion for a different reason; the drills. During the drill segment you’ll see which offensive linemen move fluidly, and which ones are stiff in the hips or the ankles. You will see who’s willing to compete and give 110%, and which one’s get tired and lose technique. One drill to keep your eye on in particular is the mirror drill. Try to watch their footwork and their hand placement. If they kick their feet together, or their hands sag, those are two indications that should make you question their abilities at the next level.
Overall, the Combine is meant to reaffirm what you see on tape, or in some cases disprove it and make you have to re-watch the film. The Offensive Linemen provide the most for a scout to work with out of the offensive players that will test this weekend.
Players With the Most to Prove
1- David Montgomery: Many love his vision on tape and elusiveness in between the tackles. He makes the first man miss a lot, and he shows the quickness to bounce a play outside and turn the corner. However, he doesn’t show elite top end speed to break off home run type plays. If Montgomery shows a good 40 time, he can raise his draft stock.
2- DK Metcalf: Okay, putting Metcalf in this category is cheating because he’s going to dominate. Here’s why this is important though; there’s four teams in the top five that need pass catchers. Metcalf is projected to come in at 6’4 and 240 pounds, essentially Tight End like measurements. If he runs a low 4.4, and all his medicals check out, this guy could easily go top five. His tape is terrific and he has an elite catch radius. Metcalf could be the biggest riser this weekend.
3- The Second Tier Offensive Tackles: Once you get past Jonah Williams (yes he’s still a tackle), Jawaan Taylor, Cody Ford and Andre Dillard, the tackle class takes a massive drop. This is a very important weekend for this position group. Someone needs to emerge with NFL length and athleticism because so many teams need offensive line, both starting caliber guys and depth players. Bobby Evans, Kaleb McGary, Tytus Howard and others will need to show up this weekend. If they do, they can find themselves going in day two rather than day three.
4- AJ Brown and N’Keal Harry: The buzz has cooled on these two players, and both can put the spotlight back on them with big weekends. Neither guy is viewed at as having elite top end speed, and for Harry, a 40 time is going to be very important to put to rest questions about his down the field playmaking. For Brown, I’m most interested in his short shuttle and 3-Cone numbers. I think he’s a dynamic playmaker out of the slot with elite quickness in and out of cuts. If those two numbers are where I think they will be, Brown will catch the eyes of many this weekend.
5- Kaden Smith: Kaden Smith is falling rapidly down draft boards because his tape is a little underwhelming. If you are a fan of Kaden Smith, you will cite his athleticism, both in terms of his explosiveness up the seam as well as his ability in jump ball situations. This is why the combine is so important for him. Assuming Smith tests the way people think he should, his draft stock should stay the same, or even rise a bit. Having said that, if Smith underwhelms in Indy, he could find himself as a late day three selection.
Sleepers of the Combine
1- Andy Isabella: Isabella is on many people’s radar because he looks like the prototypical Patriots Wide Receiver at 5’9, but this dude is a former track star and is going to wow this weekend. He’s a very crafty route runner, and when you combine that with his athletic testing, scouts and teams will be salivating over Isabella come round three.
2- Oli Udoh: Admittedly, I haven’t finished watching Udoh, but all signs point to this guy having a great weekend. He has NFL size and length and assuming he shows fluidity in the drills, Udoh could be a day three gem.
3- Miles Sanders: The buzz isn’t there on Sanders because he’s not a great runner between the tackles, but this guy has home run ability and can excel as a third down back. I think the combine is the perfect venue for him to boost his stock. He will be one of the best in the pass catching drill and he will be one of the few players at the RB position who will test well across the board athletically.
Jordan Katz 2019 NFL Mock Draft 3.0: Post Super Bowl
#MockDraftSZN rolls on! Now that the NFL Draft order is set, and the Senior Bowl/East-West Shrine Bowl have been completed, it’s time for another Mock Draft. Plenty of changes to this one from the last one, and some interesting trades that shake up this mock draft.
A few notes to make before we get started. As always, this is my personal evaluation of what I would do if I was in charge of all 32 teams. For my prediction mock draft, aka what I think would happen if the draft was today, click the link here (https://draftstock.net/articles/https-draftstock-net-2019-01-29-jordan-katz-2019-prediction-mock-draft-1-0/).
As always, my mock drafts include trades (which are denoted by an asterisk next to the team), but trades are not exclusive to only draft picks. If I see a trade for a player that includes draft picks and makes sense for both teams involved, I’ll pull the trigger on it and make the deal. For example, Nick Foles is most likely getting traded, and I had Philadelphia use Foles to move up in this draft. Who acquired the Super Bowl MVP? Let’s find out.
ROUND ONE
1) Arizona Cardinals: Nick Bosa, EDGE Ohio State- No changes here, Bosa remains the top player in this draft in a walk.
2) San Francisco 49ers: Jonah Williams, OT Alabama- The top TACKLE in this draft is still the layup here. I think the Niners are in a prime position to trade out of this spot to a team that needs a QB. However, on my personal board, there isn’t a QB worth trading up for.
3) New York Jets: DK Metcalf, WR Ole Miss- The Jets entire draft strategy will be dependent on what they do in Free Agency. If I were in charge, I would spend money on a pass rush before a pass catcher. There’s significantly more pass rushing talent in free agency than receiving talent, and the pass catchers in this draft are very good.
DK Metcalf is more than worthy of a top 5 selection, in my opinion. He wins at the line of scrimmage as good as anyone I’ve seen in the last couple of years, he separates with long strides down the field as well as his frame, and he has elite ball skills.
4) Oakland Raiders: Quinnen Williams, DT Alabama- Williams remains the best option for Oakland because he had a very high floor. Oakland cannot miss with their three first round picks if they hope to expedite this rebuilding project. Williams is an elite pass rusher along the interior, which is something the Raiders desperately need.
5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Byron Murphy, CB Washington: Murphy got a second round grade from the draft committee, which is an absolute abomination. His man cover skills are elite, showing fluid hips and excelling at being able to mirror from the boundary or the slot. I refuse to believe Murphy is not a first round talent, and I think he’s a game changer in the secondary.
6) New York Giants: Brian Burns, EDGE Florida State- Burns is elite as a pass rusher off the edge. He has incredible dip and bend ability, and a solid enough moveset to keep tackles honest. Some question his strength, but at 6’6, he can put weight on easily and not miss a step because he’s so athletic. Giants fans may want Dwayne Haskins, but I think a legit pass rusher makes more of an impact here.
7) *Philadelphia Eagles via Jacksonville Jaguars: Clelin Ferrell, EDGE Clemson- Here’s the Nick Foles trade I referred to earlier, but it’s a little more complex than the one that will probably get done. I still think Jacksonville makes the most sense to acquire Foles because their defense is still in a position to take them far if they have a QB that holds onto the football. That portion of the deal is fine.
Philadelphia using Foles to move up in the draft instead of trading him for straight draft equity is the stretch here, but it makes sense. The Eagles are about to lose Brandon Graham to free agency, and they need to find a quality replacement for cheap. So with a second round draft pick value on Nick Foles, the Eagles use him and other assets to trade up and land Ferrell, who is a perfect scheme fit.
8) Detroit Lions: Montez Sweat, EDGE Mississippi State- Sweat is a big riser from my most recent mock draft, but it’s more than justified. He dominated Senior Bowl week with superior technique. Sweat has all the tricks, he can long arm tackles, rip inside, club, swim move, etc. You name it, he’s got it in his move-set toolbox. He can also line up as a 4-3 DE or a 3-4 OLB, versatility that Head Coach Matt Patricia will definitely value.
9) Buffalo Bills: Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, WR Oklahoma- The Bills have to get Josh Allen some weapons in order for them to get back to the playoffs next season. Who’s a better weapon for Allen’s cannon of an arm than the best deep threat in the draft? Hollywood Brown has explosive playmaking ability down the field, as well as with the ball in his hands. He’s also a very good route runner, so he’s not a one dimensional player either.
10) Denver Broncos: Rashan Gary, DE Michigan: The more I think about the Broncos draft situation, the more confident I am that Gary is the right selection. None of the QBs in this draft are worthy of a top ten selection, and the Broncos can cut Derek Wolfe to continue to get younger up front.
Gary is better served along the interior as a three technique where he can win with his strength and quick first step, instead of having to play slightly out of position along the edge as a five technique.
11) Cincinnati Bengals: Chris Lindstrom, OG Boston College- The Bengals have invested a fair amount of picks into their offensive line over the last few years, but it still needs work. Lindstrom is a complete prospect ready to start from day one. He can play either guard spot because of how technical he is with his hands and his footwork.
12) Green Bay Packers: Josh Allen, EDGE Kentucky- I personally don’t think Allen is the cleanest athlete around the edge, but he’s still better at running the arch than most. Allen dips and bends well at the waist, but he isn’t the cleanest in terms of his ankle flexibility. What keeps him at a first round evaluation for me is that he’s a chess piece; you can move him all over the field and he’s able to create pressure. Green Bay could use a chess piece on defense.
13) Miami Dolphins: Kyler Murray, QB Oklahoma- First Quarterback off the board here, and it’s more because of the fit than the evaluation. Miami is most likely going to move on from Ryan Tannehill, but according to the media, it’s in hopes of selecting a Quarterback in 2020.
However, I think a better strategy might be shooting for a Quarterback in this draft class, particularly Murray. I realize this is counterintuitive because next year’s QB class is much better than this one, but Miami finds themselves in a unique position. It’s clear a rebuild is the desired direction of this team, which is why they can take a chance on Murray and hope for lightning in a bottle. If it doesn’t work, they’re in a prime position in two years to take Trevor Lawrence when the rebuild is much further along. If it does work, they have their game changer at QB.
14) Atlanta Falcons: Ed Oliver, DT Houston- This is becoming the easiest selection of the draft. Oliver continues to fall on my mock drafts because he’s not the pass rusher that others in this draft happen to be. It doesn’t make him a bad prospect, it just means his ceiling may not be as high as others in the draft. I still think he’s a bully in the run game and he can collapse the pocket because of his elite strength.
15) *Pittsburgh Steelers via Washington Redskins: Devin White, ILB LSU- AS much as we would all love to see Ryan Shazier return to the football field, however it’s probably best for his health that he doesn’t. Truth be told, even if he does, and could return to the level he was playing at, the Steelers still need an inside linebacker to play next to him.
White is a terrific athlete and he’s skilled in coverage, possessing the ability to line up one on one with tight ends and running backs, as well as the instincts to read and react in zone coverage.
16) Carolina Panthers: Deionte Thompson, FS Alabama- Carolina has some big needs to fill this offseason in order to get back to being a perennial playoff team. Thompson would fill one of those needs; a ball hawking free safety that creates turnovers.
17) *New England Patriots via Cleveland Browns: Noah Fant, TE Iowa- The Patriots trading up?!? Have I gone temporarily insane? Well, because this is a weak draft class, the Patriots use their draft capital to come up and take a game changer in the middle of the field, not to mention the heir to Rob Gronkowski’s throne.
18) Minnesota Vikings: Christian Wilkins, DT Clemson- The Vikings need some help along the interior of their defensive line. Linval Joseph continues to age and Sheldon Richardson is most likely leaving in free agency. Wilkins has an explosive first step, which helps him win up front routinely. He’s a smart player as well, showing discipline on the backside of plays. Wilkins would be a good addition to the Vikings front four.
19) Tennessee Titans: TJ Hockenson, TE Iowa- The Titans are going to need to find Delaine Walker’s long term replacement sooner rather than later. Hockenson is an elite blocker and wins with his size at the top of the stem. He high points the ball well also. Marcus Mariota gets a shiny new red zone threat here with the former Iowa standout.
20) *Washington Redskins via Pittsburgh Steelers: Cody Ford, OT/OG Oklahoma- The Redskins interior offensive line is a debacle at the moment. Ford is a big time athlete for his size, which is why I think he can transition to guard if a team asks him to do so. He needs to work on keeping his hands high, but his footwork is solid and he gets to the second level quickly. Ford should be a quality right side of the line player in the NFL.
21) Seattle Seahawks: Greedy Williams, CB LSU- What a steal this would be on draft day. Williams is an ideal corner for Seattle’s defense, both in his measurables (Seattle likes bigger, longer cornerbacks) and his ability in man coverage. Williams opposite Shaq Griffin could be the start of LOB 2.0.
22) Baltimore Ravens: Kelvin Harmon, WR NC State- Getting Lamar Jackson some weapons is priority one for the Ravens this offseason. I think the misnomer is that the pass catcher the Ravens acquire has to be a deep threat because of Jackson’s arm talent. Baltimore needs a player that separates well, someone who can be a reliable target for Jackson on third downs and in the red zone. In a nutshell, they need a target like Kelvin Harmon.
23) Houston Texans: Andre Dillard, OT Washington State- The Texans offensive line was miserable in pass protection last year, and Dillard would be an immediate upgrade in that are. While he lacks the power at the point of attack to be impactful in the run game, Dillard is a very good athlete with excellent footwork in the 45 degree set and the vertical set. Houston can move Julie’n Davenport to the right side and let Dillard protect Deshaun Watson’s blindside.
24) Oakland Raiders via Chicago Bears: Jawaan Taylor, OT Florida- The Raiders also need offensive line help. However, unlike Houston before them, they need a power blocking right tackle instead of a pass blocking athlete on the left side of a zone blocking scheme. That’s Jawaan Taylor to a tee.
25) *Jacksonville Jaguars via Philadelphia Eagles: Dalton Risner, OT/OG Kansas State- Jacksonville is yet another team that needs offensive line help. Risner is a perfect fit for them. He provides an attitude and competitiveness up front that the Jaguars lack, especially for a team that wants to win in the trenches. Risner is a mauler in the run game and will be a quality right guard in the NFL.
26) Indianapolis Colts: Jeffery Simmons, DT Mississippi State- The Colts were a surprise playoff team in 2018. In order to stay there in 2019, they will need to continue to build up their defense. Simmons has a lightning quick get off and a bevy of pass rushing moves. I expect him to go higher than this on draft day, but with a lot of positions at a premium in this draft, players along the defensive front are bound to fall.
27) Oakland Raiders via Dallas Cowboys: Josh Jacobs, RB Alabama- This is not Jon Gruden’s prototypical running back in terms of size, but it is his prototypical running back in terms of toughness. Jacobs is a physical runner in between the tackles, and he’s a game changer in the pass game. While I don’t have him as high as others in the draft community do, there’s no doubt Jacobs is RB1 this year.
28) Los Angeles Chargers: Dexter Lawrence, NT Clemson- This is my layup of the draft season. The Chargers need someone in the middle of their defense to help them against the run, and that is Lawrence to a tee.
29) Kansas City Chiefs: Rock Ya-Sin, CB Temple- Kansas City’s defense was dreadful last year, despite having a strong pass rush. That would lead you to believe their secondary was a big negative, and needs to be upgraded. Rock Ya-Sin excels in mirroring receivers, and it’s his ability to flip his hips and stay with players that makes me think he can be a stud at the next level.
30) Green Bay Packers via New Orleans Saints: Nasir Adderley, FS Delaware- Adderley fills a major need for the Packers at the safety position. He can play the single high safety spot, showing good range sideline to sideline. He has good ball skills as well, which would be a major boost to a team that was second to last in interceptions on defense last year.
31) *New York Giants via Los Angeles Rams: Dwayne Haskins, QB Ohio State- First off, I’m aware there’s zero chance Dwayne Haskins makes it out of the top ten in the actual draft. However, he’s easily QB2 on my board and really not worthy of a first round selection. I think Murray shows much better anticipation than Haskins, and Murray also fits throws into NFL windows more consistently. Haskins has flashes of brilliance, and definitely has the arm talent to one day be a quality starter. Right now, there’s too many inconsistencies in his mechanics for me to justify him being highly coveted.
Having said that, teams will be willing to take a chance on him because of the position he plays. Teams will also want to take the chance in round one rather than later in the draft to ensure they have the fifth year option on him. The Giants are that team this time around, and the trade back into round one to get the fifth year option on Haskins.
32) *Cleveland Browns via New England Patriots: Yodny Cajuste, OT West Virginia- Cajuste has good footwork in the vertical set, showing quick feet in the kickslide and the ability to maintain high hands and a good pad level. He definitely has areas that need improving, particularly at the point of attack in the jump set and the run game (he’s more of a stopper than a guy who wins in the run game with power), but Cajuste is a prospect that can become a solid tackle at the next level.
TRADES IN ROUND ONE
1) Philadelphia Eagles trade the #25, #57 and Nick Foles to the Jacksonville Jaguars for the #7 and the #102.
2) Pittsburgh Steelers trade the #20, #83 and a 2020 5th round pick to the Washington Redskins for the #15 and a 2020 6th round pick.
3) New England Patriots trade the #32, #56, and #73 to the Cleveland Browns for the #17, #95 and #133
4) New York Giants trade the #37, #132, and a 2020 5th round pick to the Los Angeles Rams for the #31.
ROUND TWO
33) Arizona Cardinals: David Edwards, OT Wisconsin- Edwards is incredibly advanced for someone who converted to the offensive line a few years ago. He’s a high upside pick because his technique will only get better as he becomes more comfortable with the position.
34) Indianapolis Colts via New York Jets: AJ Brown, WR Ole Miss- Brown is a player who excels in the short to intermediate passing game. He would be an excellent compliment to T.Y. Hilton, who’s one of the best deep ball threats in the NFL.
35) Oakland Raiders: N’Keal Harry, WR Arizona State- Harry is a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands. Oakland is desperate for playmakers on both sides of the ball, so this is an easy fit.
36) San Francisco 49ers: DeAndre Baker, CB Georgia- Baker could wind up much higher than this later on in the Draft Season if he an answer some questions I have about his straight-line speed and his fluidity as an athlete.
37) *Los Angeles Rams via New York Giants: Jachai Polite, EDGE Florida- The Rams have plenty of question marks this offseason, but the layup to me is to replace Dante Fowler in the draft rather than free agency. Polite is a bit undersized, but he’s excellent off the edge.
38) Jacksonville Jaguars: Irv Smith Jr., TE Alabama- Smith is a skilled route runner with great hands and he should be a quality red zone threat for the Jaguars.
39) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mack Wilson, ILB Alabama- Absolute steal here for the Buccaneers. Wilson replaces pending free agent Kwon Alexander as a three down starter from day one.
40) Buffalo Bills: Greg Little, OT Ole Miss- Buffalo’s offensive line needs a lot of work, it was a big reason why they regressed in 2018. Little is a bit of a project for the left side, but I think his power at the point of attack will help him start on the right side from day one.
41) *Carolina Panthers via Denver Broncos: Anthony Nelson, EDGE Iowa- Carolina trades up to land what they hope is the solution to their pass rushing problems.
42) Cincinnati Bengals: Kaden Smith, TE Stanford- The Bengals offense has struggled since losing Tyler Eifert to a number of injuries in the past few years. Smith is a unique athlete for the tight end position; he can help AJ Green see less double teams.
43) Detroit Lions: Amani Oruwariye, CB Penn State- Oruwariye is a long corner with good ball skills. He would help solidify the Lions need for a cornerback opposite Darius Slay.
44) Green Bay Packers: Tytus Howard, OT Alabama State- Howard has ideal size for the position and the ability to counter pass rushers. He needs work in the jump set and being more physical up front in the run game, but Howard is a good pick for a team that has the luxury to bring him along slowly like the Packers can.
45) Atlanta Falcons: Joejuan Williams, CB Vanderbilt- Williams isn’t the Falcons prototypical corner, but he does have the length and size that Dan Quinn used to build defenses around in Seattle.
46) Washington Redskins: Jonathan Abram, SS Mississippi State- Washington needs a replacement for HaHa Clinton-Dix in the back end that can play close to the line of scrimmage and cover as well. Abram is a perfect scheme fit.
47) *Denver Broncos via Carolina Panthers: Daniel Jones, QB Duke- Well, somebody has to pick quarterbacks in this draft, and Denver is one of them. They trade back and grab another one of John Elway’s “prototypical size,” QB prospects.
48) Miami Dolphins: Deebo Samuel, WR South Carolina- Miami’s receiving core was decent last year, but they need a true playmaker at the position.
49) Cleveland Browns: Charles Omenihu, DL Texas- Omenihu is a big time pass rusher as a three technique and would establish the Browns as one of the best young defensive lines in the NFL.
50) Minnesota Vikings: Michael Dieter, OL Wisconsin- I’m willing to “ride or die,” with Dieter this year as a guy who can move inside and be a solid player. He was up and down at the Senior Bowl but I think his intelligence for the position will win out.
51) Tennessee Titans: Oshane Ximines, EDGE Old Dominion- I like the idea of the Titans taking an edge player early in this draft to play opposite Harold Landry, instead of them trying to sign a veteran player as a quick fix.
52) Pittsburgh Steelers: Trayvon Mullen, CB Clemson- If the Steelers come out of this draft with Devin White and Trayvon Mullen, I think there would be a parade in Pittsburgh the following day.
53) *Jacksonville Jaguars from Philadelphia Eagles via Baltimore Ravens: Devin Bush, ILB Michigan- This is a bit of a weird one, but the fit makes sense. Bush would be excellent for the Jags on the strong side because he shoots gaps well and he could still drop in coverage if asked to do so.
54) Houston Texans via Seattle Seahawks: Renell Wren, DT/NT Arizona State- Wren can be a quality two gap player at the next level because of his get off and his ability to stack and shed.
55) *Kansas City Chiefs via Houston Texans: Rodney Anderson, RB Oklahoma- Trading up for a running back may seem odd, but the Chiefs have to find a starting caliber RB this offseason. Anderson would be a top 50 pick easy without the medical concerns, so this is a calculated gamble for KC.
56) *Cleveland Browns from New England Patriots via Chicago Bears: Julian Love, CB Notre Dame- Love is my last cornerback on the board with a grade worthy of a top 75 selection. While this is still a reach, Cleveland makes the reach out of necessity.
57) Philadelphia Eagles: Damien Harris, RB Alabama- Philadelphia opts to draft one of the few potential three down backs in this class instead of attempting to sign one in free agency with the limited money they have.
58) Dallas Cowboys: Dawson Knox, TE Ole Miss- Knox is a big time athlete who should help Dak Prescott as a safety valve on third down. Even though Knox’s route tree was extremely limited at OIe Miss, I think he’ll excel at it at the next level.
59) Indianapolis Colts: Khaleke Hudson, SS Michigan- Malik Hooker’s ability as a cover one, single high safety means that the Colts can select a more traditional strong safety to help their run defense.
60) Los Angeles Chargers: Damarkus Lodge, WR Ole Miss- The Chargers are going to lose Tyrell Williams in free agency, making Lodge his replacement as their deep ball threat. Lodge has some drops, but he’s a burner with the ability to get a quality release on almost every snap.
Editor’s Note: I think Lodge’s drops are more mental than anything else because he flashes some ridiculous catches and an absurd catch radius. If he stays focused, he has big time potential.
61) *Houston Texans via Kansas City Chiefs: Chase Winovich, EDGE Michigan- The Texans are most likely keeping Jadeveon Clowney, but Whitney Mercilus may be forced to walk after next year so the Texans can pay Deshaun Watson.
62) New Orleans Saints: Isaac Huata, TE Georgia- Yet another tight end off the board here. Huata is a big time run blocker and he’s improving as a pass catcher. I think New Orleans can get the most out him.
63) Kansas City Chiefs via Los Angeles Rams: Erik McCoy, C Texas A&M- The center class is weak, but McCoy’s tape against Clemson versus their interior line talent makes me think his upside could be huge.
64) New England Patriots: Jerry Tillery, DT Notre Dame- The Patriots stealing a pass rushing three technique like Tillery at the bottom of round two is an absolute joke.
TRADES IN ROUND TWO
1) Carolina Panthers trade the #47 and #108 to the Denver Broncos for the #41
2) Kansas City Chiefs trade #61, #156 and a 2020 4th round pick to the Houston Texans for the #55 and a 2020 5th round pick
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